(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 12 - Italy's 2018 Open winner and only
major victor Francesco Molinari told ANSA Tuesday he was seeking
to boost his fortunes at this week's 150th edition of the
world's oldest tournament at the Old Course at St. Andrews after
a dry run dating back to March 2019.
"I have beautiful memories of the triumph at The Open in
2018,"he said of his milestone victory at Carnoustie.
"It was an apotheosis".
Turin-born Molinari, 39, said he was "lacking a bit of
confidence, and at a technical level I'm also not at the top of
my game".
He said he was looking forward to playing alongside all-time
legend Tiger Woods, who is returning for The Open after missing
the US Open and PGA after pulling out of the Masters on his last
round with a persistent leg injury sustained in last year's
well-publicized car crash.
"Tiger is golf. No one can exclude him from the list of possible
winners, but he's coming off a complicated period with an awful
leg injury", said Molinari.
On the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series that has split
the golfing world, Molinari said "enough animosity, let's just
talk about the golf that is played. There has never been so much
tension before".
Molinari also said it would be a "dream" if his elder brother
Eduardo, 41, could join him on the European Ryder Cup team at
Rome next year. (ANSA).