Fun In The Sun: Molinari Having Unforgettable Summer

By Alex Miceli

Ardmore, Pa. – It has been quite a summer for 24-year-old Italian Edoardo Molinari. It started out on an ominous note as an airline company lost his clubs as he was traveling from Milan to Edinburgh to qualify for the British Open at St. Andrews.

Edoardo Molinari, a 6-and-4 winner Friday, is considered the top amateur in Italy. (John Mummert/USGA)

Luckily, Molinari got in touch with the manufacturer that made his clubs and a new set were sent to him in Scotland the next day.  Molinari used those new clubs to produce medalist honors at Ladybank, one of four qualifying sites for the British Open, after shooting 67-66. 

Then came the British Open. Molinari had back-to-back 70s and found himself in a tie for 15^th place.  He would eventually finish tied for 60^th after a 74-75 weekend.

"I received I think more phone calls during that week than the rest of the year probably," said Molinari. "The phone was ringing every single minute.  And then I haven't actually been to my home golf course after the Open, so I think there will be a big party in September when I will be back there.  And on our Web site and newspapers, I was on the first page of the Gazette, which is the most-sold-newspaper in Italy, sport newspaper in Italy, which is a very big thing for a golfer, because I think only Constantino Rocca when he played the Ryder Cup was on the first page of it."

After the British Open, Molinari decided to bring his talent to the U.S. and now finds himself in the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur. He’s trying to become the first Italian-born male to win the event, and only the second Italian-born player to win a USGA event since Silvia Cavalleri won the 1997 Women’s Amateur at Brae Burn C.C. in West Newton, Ma.

Since winning his first match in 20 holes and then his second in 19 holes, Molinari has never trailed. Through Thursday’s third round and Friday’s quarterfinal, Molinari has played the last 30 holes at 5 under par.

"I think this is the biggest, biggest tournament I've played apart from the Open championship," said Molinari, who eliminated South African Dawie van der Walt, 6 and 4, Friday. "So I'm really pleased to be playing so well in this tournament."

Molinari is not a stranger to high powered competition, having won the 2001 Italian Amateur and the 2003 Turkish Amateur, along with playing in numerous other amateur and professional events in Europe.

He is considered the top player in Italy, having claimed the Italian Match Play Championship, Italian Foursome Championship and was the winner of the Italian Team Championship with Golf Club Torino last year.

"I played almost all over Europe and I've been twice to Japan," said Molinari. "I've never been to South Africa, and this is my first trip to competitive tournament in the U.S., actually.  So looking good."

Alex Miceli is a free-lance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usamateur.org.