New father Molinari hoping to claim a second Italian Open title

Phil Casey 12:26 17/09/2015
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  • Italian icons: Molinari with Alessandro Del Piero.

    Francesco Molinari will look to win his national title for the second time in the Italian Open, but admits he might settle for a few nights of unbroken sleep.

    Molinari has not played since the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits after his wife Valentina gave birth to the couple’s second child last month.

    But that will not stop the former Ryder Cup player from attempting to win a fourth European Tour title, and first since 2012, following four top-six finishes this season.

    “I’m excited as always for the home event,” Molinari said. “I’m coming from a period of rest and training so it’s different to the last few years but I am looking forward to it.

    “It should be a good week. Hopefully the weather will help us after all the rain and the crowds will be huge as they were the last few years. It’s always exciting playing in front of your home crowd and getting the support.

    “You have some question marks after a bit of time off but the preparation has been going well. I’ve worked well the last two weeks to get ready. I had a couple of weeks off when my second child was born and after that it was just about hitting balls and getting back the feelings of controlling the ball.

    “It’s nice to be here in a quiet hotel room and sleeping a few hours in a row but it’s been great! It’s tough and great at the same time.”

    Molinari has missed the first two events in Ryder Cup qualifying but may be able to catch the eye of European captain Darren Clarke, who is also in the field at Golf Club Milano in the Parco Reale di Monza – home to the world famous racetrack.

    Clarke, who has yet to record a top-10 finish on the European Tour since winning the Open in 2011, missed the cut in the KLM Open last week and admits his Ryder Cup duties are having an effect on his game.

    “I do have a lot of things going on at the moment and the Ryder Cup is starting to bite into my time, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse as I am still trying to play and practice,” said Clarke.

    “But there are a lot of other things going on, including getting ready to go to America for the Ryder Cup year-to-go celebrations in the next two weeks. All that stuff can add to the frustration out on the golf course when you are not playing well, but that’s what I have got to do. My priority is the Ryder Cup and nothing else.”

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