Molinari happy to be at the business end after tough time as caddie for his brother

From caddie to champion. That’s the journey Francesco Molinari is hoping to make at Augusta National. The Italian’s first visit here was to carry his older brother Edoardo’s clubs when he played in 2006 as the US Amateur champion. “I just prayed that he was going to hit good shots,” recalled Francesco, laughing.

He’s now aiming to swap the trademark white boilersuits worn by caddies in this event for a winner’s Green Jacket and prefers the challenge from a playing perspective.

“It wasn’t fun trying to pick clubs for him [Edoardo],” added the Open champion, right. “It’s a tough course to caddie around. You know, when you stand on the 12th tee, you just hope to make a right decision. But it’s really not easy, especially when we were both very inexperienced at this level at the time.”

SIGNING OFF

Rory Mcilroy dislikes Roy Keane because he once turned him down for an autograph. Brooks Koepka felt the same about Phil Mickelson for a few years when he suffered a similar snub at the Masters. “It was in ’98 or ’99 maybe,” said the three-time major winner. “I was standing by the old range, and somehow found my way kind of right by the parking lot and asked Phil for an autograph. He turned me down – probably about the only kid Phil’s ever turned down [laughing]. I told him, I think in 2014, when we were playing a practice round at the Open. I was like, ‘Listen, man, you stiffed me and I really didn’t like you for a long time’. He was typical Phil, saying right back at me that I shouldn’t have been there on the parking lot. We can laugh about it now. I’ve got his autograph now!”

BAGS OF EXPERIENCE

Fanny Sunesson has been lured out of retirement – again! Nine months after her return to caddying in a major for Adam Scott in the Open at Carnoustie, she’s on fellow Swede Henrik Stenson’s bag this week. Sunesson knows her way around Augusta National, of course, having been at Nick Faldo’s side when he won here in 1990 and 1996. It’s a shrewd move by Stenson, especially as he will have gained lots of confidence from a career-best joint-fifth finish here 12 months ago. It will be a busy week for Sunesson as she is also keeping her commitment to her regular job these days as a commentator/reporter for Swedish television.