Francesco Molinari

Francesco Molinari (born 8 November 1982) is an Italian professional golfer. He is a two-time winner on the European Tour and was a member of the 2010 European Ryder Cup team.

Background and amateur career

Molinari was born in Turin, Italy, and is the younger brother of Edoardo. As an amateur, he won the Italian Amateur Stroke Play Championship twice, and the Italian Match Play Championship in 2004. He turned professional later that year.

Professional career

At the 2004 European Tour qualifying school, Molinari earned full playing status for the 2005 season, in which he ultimately finished in eighty-sixth place in the tour's Order of Merit standings.

In May 2006, Molinari claimed his first European Tour victory, becoming the first Italian since Massimo Mannelli in 1980 to win the Telecom Italia Open. He finished 24th on the Order of Merit in 2008, and improved this placement in the augural Race to Dubai where he has ranked 14th.

In October 2009, Molinari reached the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.

On 29 November 2009, Molinari, along with his older brother Edoardo, led Italy to their first World Cup win at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

In August 2010, he qualified to represent Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup which place at Celtic Manor.

On 7 November 2010, Molinari won the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He defeated Lee Westwood by one stroke, finishing at 19-under...
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