Molinari seeking Ryder fillip

FRANCESCO MOLINARI hopes he can be the player this week to keep the European Ryder Cup side’s winning streak going.

In the past five weeks Rory McIlroy has had three victories and Sergio Garcia, Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson one each.

Now Molinari competes at his home BMW Italian Open in Turin alongside Ryder team-mates Martin Kaymer and Nicolas Colsaerts. The trio have been grouped together for the first two rounds.

“Obviously with the Ryder Cup in two weeks everything is getting very exciting,” the 2006 winner told the European Tour website.

“I hope it’s going to be good preparation for Chicago.

“It’s great to see so many players in the team on good form.

“Rory has been amazing and it’s really good for the team spirit. The Americans had a really good early season and summer, so it’s important to show everyone that the Europeans are ready.”

The 29-year-old winner now resides in London, but added: “It’s even more special because I don’t live here anymore.

“It’s good to be back and see lots of family and friends.

“I’m playing well and I’ve had a couple of weeks off to get ready for this week and for the Ryder Cup. It’s different from normal weeks because of the pressure of the crowd wanting you to do well.”

“The golf course is slightly different from previous years because the rough is not so high. I think it might get a bit firmer if the weather is okay. I think it will be quite low scoring as usual.”

For Kaymer it is one last chance to boost his confidence ahead of his second cup appearance. The former world number one hung on to the last qualifying place in Europe’s side despite no top-10 finishes since April.

The event also sees the return to action of Molinari’s older brother Edoardo. They were together at the last Ryder Cup, but the 31-year-old has not played since early June and underwent wrist surgery a month later.

The defending champion is England’s Robert Rock, who has disappointed since beating Tiger Woods head-to-head in Abu Dhabi in January. Rock has not had another top-10 finish in a strokeplay event and has missed the cut in four of his last five starts.

Six Irish players will be teeing up, Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Simon Thornton, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin.

Turin lowdown

Course: Royal Park I Roveri

Prize money: €1.5m (winner €250,000)

Length: 7,282. Par: 72.

Field: 156

The layout: Parkland course, with several tight fairways and dense rough. The Alps provide a stunning backdrop. Italian Open has been played at Royal Park since 2009. Small rivers, lakes and ditches abound, with water coming into play on 12 holes. Two long par fours, the 16th and 17th, and longest par five is the fifth, at 609 yards.

Defending champion: Robert Rock

Type of player suited to challenge: Power is an advantage, especially if you hit straight, like last two winners, Rock and Fredrik Andersson Hed

Key attribute: Accuracy

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny

On TV: Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am