Francesco Molinari continues to make strides in rebuilding his best version. Or at least, a version of himself as close as possible to that of 2018 and the first four months of 2019, undoubtedly the most successful stretch of his professional career. Time has passed since then and he turned 41 in November, but the Italian, a true workaholic, is not giving up on seeing himself again at the forefront of world golf. He is working very hard for it. And he has also introduced some important changes, especially in his team.
Yesterday he closed the Dubai Invitational with a round of 63 strokes, the best of the day at the Dubai Creek Resort, and a final fifth place. Undoubtedly, these are excellent numbers, but the most important thing for Francesco was to feel again that he was capable of hitting a good handful of irons, repetitively and in any situation, in the purest Francesco Molinari style, or in other words, full of precision. However, as a cautious man, he does not get carried away. “Last year I also started with good feelings at the Hero Cup and then in Abu Dhabi (where he finished fifth, just like this week), but then the year went downhill,” he explains.
All caution. And the healthy intention to go step by step. But also the relief of seeing that the work of November and December is already bearing fruit. “It was two months of very good work. I have practically changed my entire team and the way of working always changes when that happens, but it has been fun and at my age it is good to enjoy training so much again.” Molinari, indeed, put himself in the hands of a new swing coach, the Belgian Jerome Theunis, and this week he also had a new caddie in the bag, the Frenchman Sam Bernard, who worked until last August with Matt Wallace, with whom he won a tournament on the PGA Tour.
We asked him directly at the end of the tournament if he felt he had hit some irons like those of 2018 or 2019, and his answer was just as direct. “Yes, without a doubt. It’s more fun to play golf like this, of course. And I also felt good with the driver. This week I hit some shots from the tee that I wouldn’t have been able to hit last year due to lack of confidence. The short game was always there, as was the putter, but this week has been very positive from tee to green, which is what I needed the most.”
It’s more fun to play golf like this, he said. And as he said it, he was smiling, a smile that ranged from mischief to pure relief. After experiencing the Ryder in Rome from the other side of the ropes, even though he was in the locker room, he set himself the goal of not retiring without at least competing in one more Ryder, acknowledging that perhaps the one at Bethpage, in New York, in 2025, may be his last chance. Rounds like yesterday’s, irons like yesterday’s, help to reinforce this and other goals.
