Golf: Eduardo Molinari
Eduardo Molinari is one of the few professionals whose career has been like a passenger on a Concorde jet.
The Italian first laid his hands on golf clubs at the age of eight, while accompanying his father to the Turin Golf Club, where he was the architect of the venue. In less than six months, the brown-haired Eduardo started hitting
the fairways with irons and established himself as an amateur. In 1996, the young Molinari claimed his debut victory on the stage of Under-16 English Boys Championship and chipped another at National Amateur Championship. At the same time, he reeled in two
more titles at the Italian Foursomes Championship, one of which was alongside his younger sibling, Francesco.
Strolling towards the professional side, Molinari triumphed at the Turkish Amateur and gathered lots of attention. However, real stardom arrived with the US Amateur in 2005, when he became the first Italian and the first player
from Europe to win a title on American soil.
After graduating from the Polytechnic University of Turin as an Engineer, the Italian turned professional in 2006 and won twice in his rookie year: He won the Club Columbia Open and Kenya Open. Helped by three victories on the
Challenge Tour, Eduardo finished 16th on the money list and hence earned exemption on the European Tour. However, Lady Luck was not on the side of this 5ft11’ tall rookie, injuring his wrist, and delivering a terrible performance in the 72-hole session. This
slight twist of fate threw Eduardo back into the Challenge Tour in 2009.
The rookie did not take the fall as a blow. He grabbed the first trophy of the Piemonte Open on his hometown course, recorded several second place finishes, and hence blasted to new heights on the money list. Eduardo Molinari banked
250,000 Euros on the tour and exceeded his grand total of the previous year by 100,000 Euros, which was record in itself.
By the end of the season, Eduardo had defeated Robert Karlsson, the 2008 European Order of Merit leader in a play-off match at the Dunlop Phoenix title, Japan. This title bagged a new career high for him, as he became the first
Italian champion on the Japan Tour. With a gap of seven days, Eduardo teamed-up with his brother, Francesco and bought back home the World Cup of Golf.
A period of twelve months, took Eduardo to the 48th spot from 753rd on the Official World Golf Rankings.
2010 was yet another sensational year for the veteran. In the third month (March), Eduardo bagged a runner spot against Ernie Els in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour and earned more than $500,000. In May, he won the
Scottish open on the majestic greens of Loch Lomond, with a three-stroke edge over Darren Clarke and capped the PGA tour with a title at Johnnie Walker Championship, Gleneagles. The closing three birdies surged him up in the rankings and Eduardo finished 15th
on OWGR.
Owing to the increased rank and three wins, the veteran was selected by Colin Montgomerie for the European Ryder Cup squad, where he teamed up with his brother to win the crystal trophy.
The current World No. 14 surprised the spectators at the Celtic Manor, because of his putting skills and earned two points for his team. At one place the commentator exclaimed at the Italian’ s shot, “ Not to forget, Molinari played
last year at the Challenge Tour and now he is a Ryder Cup star. He surely took the shortest possible voyage to Wales.”
Eduardo Molinari is known for his light heartedness on the course and is a nerveless player. His confidence and positive attitude makes him a true example for the young Italians who want to pursue a career in Golf.
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