NOT HIM AGAIN! That was the response from the long-suffering American supporters as Francesco Molinari continued to torment their golfing superstars.
Molinari led last year’s seven-point Ryder Cup drubbing in Paris with a record-breaking five points haul.
And then kicked off a run of four successive European victories on the PGA Tour last month with his win at Bay Hill.
And surprise, surprise, Ian Poulter – the scourge of American Ryder Cup hopes throughout the years – is also up there ready to dish it out the Yanks once again.
Molinari has already got over the Major hurdle with his two shot victory at last year’s Open Championship, where he produced a turbo-charged finish after playing partner Tiger Woods had briefly hit the front.
He was at it again at Augusta, breezing alongside joint first round leader Brooks Koepka – and past Bryson Dechambeau – with an effortless-looking five under par 67.
That took him to seven under, and set the halfway target for all the later starters to chase.
Rory McIlroy – who also contributed to that unprecedented run of European victories, along with Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell – describes Molinari as a “robot”, because he never seems to miss a shot.
The Italian deadshot backed him up by playing the final 37 holes at Carnoustie without carding a single bogey to lift the Claret Jug.
That is worth repeating – it was at the course almost everyone regards as the toughest on the Open circuit, otherwise known as Carnasty.
Molinari, 36, has made just one bogey in the opening two rounds at Augusta.
So if anyone wants to deny him a green jacket, they had better come and take it – because he is certainly not going to give it to them.
Molinari’s first experience of Augusta National was as a caddie for his brother in 2006 after Edoardo qualified by virtue of winning the US Amateur title the year before.
“I didn’t learn much about the course because we were going sideways most of the time,” Molinari joked in reference to Edoardo shooting rounds of 80 and 77 to comfortably miss the cut.
Molinari made his debut as a player in 2010 and recorded his best finish to date with a tie for 19th in 2012, but came into the event on the back of a stellar 12 months.
Beginning the day four shots off the lead, Molinari birdied the third, eighth and ninth to reach the turn in 33 and picked up further shots on the 12th and 15th before a superb two-putt from 75 feet for par on the last.
“It was good, pretty solid, not many mistakes and when I missed greens I missed them on the good side, leaving myself pretty easy up and downs so all in all a very good day,” Molinari said.
“Now I’m just going to rest. The game is in good shape so I don’t think I can gain much from hitting balls.
“Just get as much energy as possible for the weekend. There’s going to be a lot of players in the mix and a very long way to go.”
Poulter said he was not a bit surprised to see Molinari pushing for a second Majors.
He explained: “He’s pretty darn good. He hits it straight, he’s now got a fantastic short game and he holes lots of putts. So I mean that’s the reason why he’s got the Jug.
“His whole game has improved since he first come on Tour, that’s four sure. He’s a Major winner, he’s won multiple events, the form he’s been in in the last two years is quite incredible.
“And he’s mentally stronger than he was in the past. He’s got the whole package.”
Molinari soon had company on seven under, with Jason Day once again backing up the old saying- beware the injured golfer. The fact that the ‘injured’ golfer is usually golf’s very own sicknote – and a former world – makes it even more appropriate.
Day has struggled with back problems in t past, and aggravated the problem when he picked up three year odl daughter Lucy before the first round.
He was walking like a ninety year old man as he shot a two under par 70 in the first round, and looked at least twenty years younger as he matched Molinari’s 67, and finished a shot ahead of playing partner Dustin Johnson.
Koepka also got to seven under after a roller-coaster 71, but Dechambeau plummeted to three under after an ugly 75.
