Bjorn delight at new European hope

Francesco Molinari has the ability to win multiple major titles according to Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, perhaps starting with next month’s US PGA Championship.

Molinari became the first Italian winner of a major with a nerveless display in the Open Championship at Carnoustie, the 35-year-old carding bogey-free rounds of 65 and 69 at the weekend to hold off challenges from the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.

After taking 10 years to win four times on the European Tour, Molinari has now claimed three victories and two second places in his last six events, securing a third Ryder Cup appearance in September and climbing to a career-high of sixth in the world.

“He’s achieved in two months probably what most European golfers want to achieve in a career,” Bjorn said. “He won the BMW PGA, he won in America and then the Claret Jug. It’s special. I was impressed with the way he went about his business.

“He has that type of game where he can go out and challenge the best players in the world. He just goes about his business, does it quietly, easily, but the way he played on the weekend with no bogeys, I think that’s probably the thing that would impress most players within the game. That doesn’t happen very often, especially around that golf course.

“This was a special moment for Francesco but it was a special moment for European golf, too. He’s got another major coming up and, with the form he’s in, this could turn into one of those very, very special years.”