IT WOULD be an exaggeration to suggest that Francesco Molinari has no aspirations whatsoever of competing for the Claret Jug next week. Still, the 29-year-old offered an intriguing insight into his seasonal ambitions after marching to the top of the Scottish Open leaderboard.
Molinari’s 10-under-par 62 represents a course record, a fine achievement even in relatively benign conditions and set in the context of generally low scoring. Yet the Italian’s relatively dismal Open record renders him an outsider to claim a prominent position at Royal Lytham and St Annes and he has conceded that the Ryder Cup in September features more prominently in his thoughts.
“I hope to keep this form going a little bit longer,” Molinari said. “Obviously that means not only in the next week, but the next month or so is really big for the Ryder Cup. And that, probably more than the Open Championship, is in my mind.”
When asked to clarify those priorities, Molinari back-tracked only marginally. “It would be amazing and fantastic to win the Open, or any tournament, from now to the Ryder Cup,” he said.
“But the main goal I have in mind at the moment is to make the team. Obviously it would be even better to make the team winning the Open or whatever other tournament I can on the way, but that’s the aim at the moment.”
A solid Scottish Open would unquestionably benefit Molinari, who currently occupies the final automatic European team place.
Molinari’s attempt to emulate his brother Edoardo, who won this event two years ago, sees him lead by two from Spain’s Alejandro Canizares and three from Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark and France’s Raphael Jacquelin. Luke Donald lay five adrift of Molinari at the end of day one.
Hints at Molinari’s indifference towards traditional links golf at least have a solid foundation. His first experience of this sort of course was in 2004, when the Italian competed as an amateur in a wind-affected St Andrews Links Trophy.
“I shot 89 on the Old Course,” Molinari recalled. “That round will stay in my mind for a long time. I actually birdied the last, which was a big relief. A birdie at the last to break 90; I still remember the putt and my big fist pump. I had never played on a links course before. There was a 30-40mph wind and I was hitting driver and two iron into the first at St Andrews. I just encountered a different sort of golf, something I hadn’t seen before.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry shot a six-under 66 that included nine birdies and was later matched by Peter Lawrie, who carded seven birdies and an eagle to lie four shots adrift of the Italian.
Phil Mickelson’s late decision to travel to Scotland has not yet paid dividends, with the American signing for a first-round 73. Mickelson cut short a family holiday in Rome in an attempt to stabilise his game ahead of the Open.
“They were at the Vatican today and I was supposed to stay with them until Friday, but I needed to get more play time in,” he explained.
“I think the best way to get through this is to play more. After playing poorly last week I felt that I needed to get back into a competition. I need to get out and try to score because I’m not just throwing away one or two shots, it’s four, five or six. I’ve got to try and get that resolved.”
Given the level of yesterday’s scoring, Mickelson’s immediate challenge is to make the cut.
Paul Casey’s search for form also continues after he opened with a 76. The Englishman’s toils began at the 12th hole, his third, where he took eight.
Ernie Els fared six shots better despite including two sixes and a seven on his card. The former world number one also survived a bizarre brush with officialdom after a television viewer called in to claim the South African had infringed the rules when in a bunker. That was on the very hole at which Els took seven.
“Maybe he thought I was kicking and screaming but there was no penalty,” Els said. “That would have been a world record, next to the green, 10ft from the hole, add two and I take nine. Seven is bad enough.”
Pádraig Harrington was three under after a 69 but Simon Thornton shot a 74 to lie two over, one adrift of Gareth Maybin (73). Paul McGinley was one under after a 71, while Damien McGrane finished one over after a late bogey at the eighth, having started on the back nine.
Guardian Service
