Edoardo Molinari has returned to Gleneagles for this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship and the scene of the standout moments in his golfing career.
Molinari birdied the closing three holes to capture the Johnnie Walker Championship by a stroke from Australia’s Brett Rumford.
The Italian, as the reigning Barclays Scottish Open champion, played last year’s final round alongside his younger brother, Francesco.
And the Turin duo turned the fourth round into an all-Italian affair, and with Francesco declaring ahead of the last day that it would be ‘seriously wrong’ if his brother, Edoardo Molinari were to win and not be chosen as one of Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ picks.
Edoardo did just that by birdieing the final three holes and put Monty in an impossible position of not being able to leave the Italian out of his European Team.
However Molinari’s gone right off the boil since capturing two of four Tour events in Scotland last year.
Molinari did finish second a week later in the European Masters in Switzerland but his best Race to Dubai finish since then has been eighth earlier this year in the Volvo Champions in Bahrain.
He did play all four Major’s this year with a best of 11th at Augusta but generally the 30-year has been disappointed with his fifth year in the pro ranks.
“My season has been pretty tough as I have been hitting the ball as well as I have ever had but I keep taking something like 33 or 34 putts a round that doesn’t help unfortunately,” he said.
“At the Bridgestone, I was first or second hitting greens in regulation but as far as putting, I was ranked 33rd.
“It was the same at the PGA Championship and I need to turn that around if I am going to be in contention.
“So it’s just that my putting has let me down.
“If you are registering more than 130 putts a tournament, and the other guys are two or three putts less a round, then that’s a dozen putts a week.
“It doesn’t matter how well you play tee-to-green as it all depends on putting.
“So in many ways it’s nice to be heading back to Scotland as for some reason I’ve always played well in Scotland.”
Monty later remarked Molinari’s win to be the one of the most remarkable victories in all his then 24-years as a pro.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a finish of that quality, under such pressure by anyone ever,” said Monty at the time.
Colin Montgomerie has rarely seen a finish as the quality of Molinari's (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“So all credit goes to him for having to come here, and also having to win, and doing so to join his brother as the first brother partnership on either team in the Ryder Cup.
“What he did today was literally incredible, and that’s the type of player we need to try and regain this Ryder Cup from the Americans.”
Molinari is hoping to rekindle that winning form starting tomorrow on the 2014 Ryder Cup host venue.
“It is very special being back here to Gleneagles as it was one of the best weeks of my golfing career,” he said.
“I have very good memories and will for a very long time. I can dream about my finish, and any time you can finish like that to win a tournament, is very special.
“And when you do that to clinch a place in the Ryder Cup team it is even better.
“I’m looking forward to these two weeks as Switzerland is the start of the Ryder Cup and having played in the Ryder Cup last year, I want to get myself back into the side.
“It would be nice to do that again as I managed in Gleneagles but I would rather be well into the side before getting to Gleneagles next year.”
Molinari will play the opening two rounds of the £1.4m event in the company of Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal.
