Just three months after clinching Italy’s first golfing World Cup, brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari will go from team mates to rivals in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy.
The Italians combined brilliantly to win the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China in November but brotherly love will be put to one side when they go up against each other in what is yet another powerful line-up for the $2.5 million tournament.
The popular Italians are the latest names to join a line-up that already boasts world top ten stars Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Kenny Perry. But buoyed by that stunning success over a world-class field in China, the Molinaris will be looking to take their golfing sibling rivalry one step further forward at Doha Golf Club from January 28-31.
European Challenge Tour Number One Edoardo said: “I think we have a great relationship as we showed at Mission Hills. When he plays well, I'm very happy; and whenever I play well, he's happy for me.”
Last year younger brother Francesco established himself as one of Europe’s top performers with seven top ten finishes on the European Tour to break into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career, and finish fourteenth in the Race to Dubai.
“It was tough playing against some of the best golfers in the world until the last, but it feels even better when it is like that,” he said of the brothers’ historic World Cup success.
“As for our individual goals, I think for both of us it is to keep improving in the World and European Rankings and maybe have a little thought on The Ryder Cup. But it's going to be really, really hard to make the team.”
The 7,388 yard desert course at Doha Golf Club will pose a different test to Mission Hills with its unpredictable winds and challenging rough.
“After beating teams featuring much higher-ranked players and becoming the first Italians to win the World Cup, I’m sure the Molinaris will be ready for the challenge,” said Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association. “On behalf of the QGA, I want to congratulate them on what must have been a memorable occasion and look forward to seeing them in Doha.”
Staged by the QGA in association with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and title sponsors Commercialbank, the 13th Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, continues to attract a multi-talented field of European Tour heavyweights, international superstars and talented young players.
“Our line up for 2010 features a healthy collection of household golfing names and up-and-coming pros, many of whom will have their eye on Ryder Cup places later in the year,” added Andrew Stevens, CEO of title sponsors Commercialbank. “With the confidence they’ve gained from winning the World Cup and becoming national heroes in Italy, it will be exciting to see how Edoardo and Francesco tackle the unique challenge of Doha Golf Club.”
