Andrea Pavan finished in a tie for fourth in the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final to ensure that he would become the Tour’s number one player in 2013. It is an impressive achievement for any player, and a number of leading stars have won Europe’s second tier in the early stages of their careers, including Thomas Bjorn and Henrik Stenson. But it is naturally Edoardo Molinari whom the Italian Pavan is hoping to emulate in future.
In 2009, Molinari won the Challenge Tour before embarking on a stunning rise that saw him become a member of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup side at Celtic Manor in 2010. That year, Edoardo formed a partnership with his brother Francesco, and Andrea Pavin is hopeful that he can join this ever-growing group of successful Italians on the European Tour, which also includes Matteo Manassero.
In addition to their nationality, the comparisons between Molinari and Pavan can draw on similar career tracks between the two.
Like Molinari, Pavan dropped off the European Tour in his rookie season, before triumphantly booking his return the following season via the Challenge Tour. After a stunning amateur career that saw him claim the 2005 U.S. Amateur, Molinari fell off the main Tour in 2008, before his record-breaking dominance of the second tier in 2009. Last year, Pavan’s much anticipated rookie season ended in disappointment, but he has shown immense resilience to bounce straight back in impressive fashion.
In 2011, Pavan won twice on the Challenge Tour, including the season finale, to finish second on the rankings behind England’s Tommy Fleetwood. That success would not transfer onto the main Tour, as Pavan only made eight cuts in 28 events to finish in 158th on the Race to Dubai.
However, the 24-year-old would brush that disappointment aside, and look forward to a return to the Challenge Tour. His second campaign on this highly competitive and increasingly international circuit would eclipse the achievements of two years prior. He missed just two cuts in 23 events, with a return of the winning habit coming twice in Germany and France.
Brooks Koepka had dominated the early season, but the American’s three victories in 2013 saw him ascend immediately onto the European Tour, opening the door for Pavan to claim the top spot - which he duly did.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” said Pavan. “I'm so happy with how things turned out this year and I'm really looking forward to next year.
“I was proud to make such a good comeback. It’s not easy to get back up and I showed that I could do it. It gives me a lot of confidence, especially because I do get down on myself sometimes so I need to believe in myself a bit more.
“Towards the end of last year I was struggling with my confidence. It was very disappointing but I learned from it and got back, worked hard in winter and got hungry again to get good results and get consistent again.
“This year has felt better than two years ago. In the first season, you come out and there is less pressure, but when you gain your card and fall back it can get harder for you.”
The player born in Rome can take inspiration from Molinari’s remarkable progression from the Challenge Tour into the Ryder Cup team within twelve months, but Pavan is not getting ahead of himself.
“Edoardo took it to the next level,” said the tall Italian. “He really dominated in 2009. I just played a bit better and more than other guys, I gave myself more chances.”
As well as being an inspiration, Molinari has also become a friend – with the 32-year-old offering words of encouragement to his young compatriot.
“He actually texted me after two rounds this week saying, ‘it looks like you’re playing like Roma’, (Italian association football team), who have won ten times in a row now! I’m sure I will room with him a couple of times next year and he’s a good guy who I really look up to.
“He knows a lot about the game and he has put a lot of effort in. He has had two quite severe injuries but I think he will come back up and win again and I think he will make The Ryder Cup team again.
“I know he is a tough competitor so he is an inspiration for me of course. I could not even think about The Ryder Cup, I just need to take it step by step. I know I have the potential but it’s about showing it with results.”
Pavan’s beloved Roma are title contenders in the Serie A, and becoming a contender on the European Tour is an obvious objective for his own game next season.
“You just need to play steady and see what happens. My goal will be to hopefully get in contention for titles next year and see where that takes me every week.
“Last year I felt like I wasn’t good enough compared to other guys, which probably took me down a little bit, but next year I will have a different approach.
“I need to be more at ease and feel like I can really compete with the top players.”
It is often said that the best players and competitors react best when faced with adversity, and Pavan has certainly shown that he can overcome crushing disappointment to finish top of the Challenge Tour.
With such a varying and important range of experiences already behind him in his short career, expect Pavan’s second season on the European Tour to be a success.