Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are hoping that the focus on their intriguing sibling rivalry at forthcoming Telecom Italia Open can provide the catalyst for a new golden era of Italian golf.
With younger brother Francesco defending the title at the Castello de Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club in Milan from May 3-6, and 2005 US amateur champion Edoardo, the elder by almost two years, making his professional debut in Italy’s National Open, there is a genuine belief that the brothers can pick up the mantle last carried by Italy’s greatest player Costantino Rocca in the 1990s.
Rocca remains the only Italian to be part of a winning Ryder Cup Team (1995 and 1997) and won five times on The European Tour International Schedule, including the 1996 PGA Championship.
The Molinari brothers are the first to point out that they have some way to go before being considered Rocca’s equal, but they are aware that if they can continue winning tournaments then Italy will have a special opportunity to market and promote two brothers taking on the world’s best in the same sport.
“We are starting to get some attention now and I think golf is growing in Italy,” said Francesco.
“Hopefully we can keep winning and let the people enjoy watching us play. It would be great if we can help golf develop in Italy because when Rocca was playing at his best, Italy did not capitalise on it. Hopefully they have learned from that and can do it this time. Our task is to keep winning – that is what we can do to help the game grow in our country.”
Edoardo, the current Challenge Tour Number One with two victories this season, echoed the sentiments of his younger brother and added: “Obviously it is good for Italian golf to have two brothers competing at a high level. We only really had Rocca in the past, and then Canonica over the last few years, so I hope Francesco and I can help the game to grow further in Italy.
“Costantino was in the top 20 of the world for a few years. He nearly won The Open and played in the Ryder Cup three times. I think we could have done more to take advantage of how good he was, but hopefully we have learned the lesson from that.
“Francisco and I haven’t done anything yet compared to Costantino, but we are young and there is plenty time ahead of us.”
With the Telecom Italia Open fast approaching, the Italian public will be hoping that the time for both brothers is now.
The 2006 edition of the Italian Open was one of the greatest in the events 73 year lifespan as Francesco whipped the passionate home crowd into a frenzy of noise and colour with his unforgettable final round of seven under par 65 to take the title by four strokes and become the first home winner of the event in 26 years.
“It’s going to be a new feeling for me, to be defending a title in the professional ranks, and I hope to do well so that the crowd can enjoy it as they did last year,” Francesco continued.
“Maybe I won’t do as well, but if I can be in contention then the crowd can enjoy it again. It was crazy last year because I don’t think the crowd expected an Italian to win last year so they all went crazy over the last few holes – it was more like a football match.
“This year will be different as well because Edoardo missed the cut last season but he is playing at a different level now. Maybe he will defend the title for me!”
