Player Blog: Edoardo Molinari

Just a month after winning his third European Tour title in Morocco, Edoardo Molinari returns to his native Italy for The Rocco Forte Open - Verdura - Sicily. Molinari took time out from preparation to write this week's Player Blog, in which he discusses his recent success, playing golf with Juventus FC legend Pavel Nedved and his famous card trick.

Winning in Morocco was fantastic, because I had a tough few years with injuries and form, so it was great to be able to win again. I’d been playing quite well from the beginning of the season, maybe just a little bit inconsistent, but I managed to get four good rounds together in Morocco.

Before the event it felt like just another week. I didn’t play that well in the practice rounds, but then I found something good to work on during Wednesday's practice and just stuck with that feeling throughout the week and ended up hitting the ball quite well. On the weekend in particular I hit some quality shots and made some good putts.

The first two wins of my career came out of the blue a little bit, but I’d had a good season before on the Challenge Tour. The win in Morocco came after some very tough months and you’re maybe not 100 per cent sure whether you can win again. It was definitely very special and a great feeling. I tried to call my wife afterwards, but I couldn’t because she was flying back home!

Going into Q-School last year I was a little more confident, as I started to play better after the summer. The most difficult part was two years ago when I wasn’t playing well and went through Q-School and managed to get my card again with a good finish in the last few holes. That was probably the toughest part of my career, as I felt I had no game at all. I managed to get my card and my playing rights for another year. Even if I didn’t keep the card at least I was out here trying to compete and trying to improve.

I started keeping a record of all my stats just to improve my game.It’s very difficult to know what to work on if you don’t know exactly where to start. I started back in 2003 when I was still an amateur and I created this spreadsheet and then just kept adding more and more things and it’s now massive, but I think it’s very helpful.

I saw some of GolfSixes and I think it’s a great idea and something different.You’d probably never be able to play a big event in that format, but it’s something I think spectators and television audiences would love and hopefully we’ll have more tournaments like that.

Matteo Manassero and Renato Paratore played for Italy and they’re both great players. Matteo has already won four events and then went through a tough period, but he looks like he’s playing better now. Renato has just come out on tour, but he’s already had some good finishes. He’s not won yet, but he could win quite soon.

I was asked earlier this year if I could still do my card trick and I said ‘yeah, I’ll give it a go”and managed to do it! I studied engineering at university and obviously you have to have a very good memory with numbers, so that helped a lot. I just started practicing with friends and sometimes at dinner we used to do it many years ago.

Hidden Talents: @DodoMolinari

Could you memorize an entire, shuffled pack of cards? pic.twitter.com/Tj14jr3kl1

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) 19 April 2017

I support Juventus FC and went to the Champions League semi-final against Monaco recently.I’m going to go to Cardiff for the final as well, so hopefully it’ll be good fun. Growing up my favourite player was Pavel Nedved. He’s also a good golfer and lives very close to where I live in the same complex. Sometimes we play golf together and he’s a great guy to be around, just sharing ideas and telling stories.

I’m friends with a lot of the Argentine guys and the Spanish guys on tour.I’d say Alvaro Quiros is a good friend. It’s obviously easier with the language with some of those other guys and we’re quite similar with character and the way we go about life.