Francesco Molinari became the first Italian to win on home soil in over two decades back in 2006. That victory, his first on Tour, was emotional enough, but he has now put himself in a strong position to raise the level of emotion to an even higher level. At the end of the second round of the 0° Open d’Italia Lindt, Molinari shares the lead alongside Felipe Aguilar and Simon Thornton, in his hometown of Turin, and on a golf course that he grew up on.
The 30-year-old two-time Ryder Cup player, has been the focus of the media and spectators all week, with expectations high in the Capital of the Alps. On Thursday, he overcame nerves and emotion to post an opening round of 68 to place him three back of the leaders after day one.
Starting at the first hole, Molinari set the tone for what would be a fantastic Friday, as he opened with a birdie on the short par five. Another birdie would come at the third, before a dropped at the sixth took him back to five-under for the tournament. However, he would immediately bounce back with a birdie at the next hole, before another followed at the ninth as he completed his opening nine holes in a strong 33. He would bogey the 11th, before once again immediately cancelling it out with a four at the par five 12th. Two further birdies would come at the 14th and 15th, before three closing pars confirmed a second round of 67 and a nine-under total after two rounds.
As the hometown favourite, expectation and pressure is naturally increased, but that extra support from the spectators can provide you with an added edge. That’s how Molinari is approaching it: “It adds a little bit of pressure but it's good, it gives you an extra motivation to do well and get focused for 18 holes.
”I said at the beginning of the week I didn't want to think of anything but try to enjoy the week, try to make some birdies and I'll try to do the same Saturday and Sunday.”
In 2006, Molinari, in just his second year on Tour, became the first Italian to win the event since Massimo Mannelli in 1980. Despite having already won the tournament, the opportunity to win it again seven years later inspires raw emotion from the reserved Italian.
”It doesn't really matter that I won before, this is a special, special week for me. I was emotional yesterday on the tenth tee at 8am with only 50 people watching so now with all these people on my course it's a great feeling.
”It has been brilliant so far so let's hope it continues to stay that way over the weekend. You have to embrace it, have fun; I smile on the course when I see people I know and I know they are rooting for me so I just try to enjoy it.”
Felipe Aguilar has enjoyed a solid season thus far, with seven top-ten finishes recorded by the start of June. Since then, the 38-year-old from Chile has been cold, but his impressive round of 66 has put him in position to claim a second European Tour title this weekend.
“It was a fun day,” he said. “I played well and got round a very difficult golf course. I love this golf course because it suits my game, which is about accuracy more than distance.
”My driving stats are pretty good and you have to play the ball from the fairways around here because you are not going to have many birdie chances if you are playing out of the rough all the time.
Playing a full-time schedule on the European Tour means that there can be little time afforded for time back at home in Chile. But the former Indonesian Open winner feels very much in home in Italy, a country that is in many ways culturally akin to South America.
”I love coming to Italy because they have a very similar culture to what we have back home. I feel very comfortable out here – we have similar courses, good food, good wine and weather so there are a lot of things that make me feel comfortable.”
Simon Thornton claimed his maiden victory on Tour earlier this season at the Saint-Omer Open. His form has been inconsistent since, but rounds of 68 and 67 have provided the Irishman with an opportunity to claim an even bigger title in Turin.
”My game is still the same and the plan is still the same,” he said. “The main thing that you take from winning out here is the fact you know you can get over the line because you have done it already.
”I still have to hit the shots and get into contention on Sunday – we have a long day ahead tomorrow but if I can stick to the plan and keep committing then I should be there or thereabouts come Sunday.”
Molinari, Aguilar and Thornton will enter the third round tied for the lead at nine-under. David Higgins, Nicolas Colsaerts and Steve Webster are a shot back at eight-under, with Australia’s Marcus Fraser and Maximilian Kieffer of Germany at seven-under. As is typical of European Tour events these days, the leaderboard is highly bunched, and it would be difficult to discount most of the remaining field with 36-holes left to play.
However, it’s all eyes on Francesco in Turin.