For a second Major Championship round in succession, Francesco Molinari finds himself grouped with Tiger Woods.
The duo, along with reigning PGA Championship winner, Brooks Koepka are grouped for the opening two rounds of the season’s now second Major.
Molinari played alongside Woods during the final round at Augusta National but letting slip all chance of a first Masters triumph in finding water guarding the green at both the 12th and 15th holes.
There is many suggesting had not the champion Italian been grouped with Woods over that final round, Molinari would have been fitted with a Masters winning green jacket, and with the presence of a resurgent Woods ‘intimidating’ Molinai by his presence in that last group.
Francesco Molinari determined to prove he can become a multiple Major winner. (Photo – PGA of America)
What we do know, Woods claimed his 15th Major title, and Molinari is unlikely be distracted by the hype around his playing partner in New York this week as the 2018 Race to Dubai champion looks to continue his purple patch at golf’s big four.
In his last six Major appearances, Molinari has claimed a win, a runner up, a top five and a top ten, his worst result in that time a tied 25th finish at last year’s U.S. Open. He has performed well in the last two US PGA Championships too, so the 36 year old will be quietly confident despite the daunting length of Bethpage’s Black Course.
“It’s just been a good relationship with this tournament, I guess, if you can call it that. I think I had my first top ten in a major at the US PGA, as well,” said Molinari.
“Probably the setup of the courses suit me, it’s usually important to hit fairways and hit greens and it’s probably just the kind of courses and layouts that this championship has been played on I think that have suited my game well in the past. Hopefully I’ll keep that streak going this week.
“I guess you need more time really to digest everything from the last year. Fortunately things keep coming my way, and obviously I like it. I love and enjoy every single minute.
“I enjoyed last season, even before winning the Open at Carnoustie. It doesn’t seem like ten months have been passed already since we were there at Carnoustie.
“It’s been great, and I think the job for me now is obviously to do my best to keep it going, and in a few years hopefully to reflect and look back, and appreciate what I managed to achieve in these last few months.”
