POTOMAC, Maryland — Francesco Molinari was at the top of his game in 2018. The following season, he reached a peak that he still finds difficult to comprehend.
Molinari won the BMW PGA Championship, the DP World Tour’s premier tournament with the deepest field, during the 2017-18 season, before making Tiger Woods seem simple at the Quicken Loans National. The Italian won by ten strokes over the host at TPC Potomac, which is also hosting the Wells Fargo Championship this week.
He beat Woods again at The Open Championship a week later, before capping off his fantasy summer with a perfect 5-0-0 performance in the Ryder Cup. It was the apex of the 39-year-professional old’s life.
“I couldn’t have predicted what would unfold in the next months.” Obviously, I was content with where my game was at the time. In Europe, I’d just won Wentworth. He stated Tuesday, back at TPC Potomac, “Had a wonderful Sunday here and managed to cruise the back nine on Sunday.” “Some of the other stuff caught me off guard.”
What happened after that amazing summer was also unexpected. Molinari failed to place in the top 10 for the rest of the season after another victory at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational and a near-miss at the Masters, when he tied for fifth.
When he returned to play after the pandemic’s peak in 2021, he struggled again and failed to qualify for the playoffs. This season has been similarly unpredictable, but Molinari believes he’s on on the right track after relocating his family to Los Angeles and switching swing coaches.
“A lot of things have changed in the last several years. In many ways, I’m not the same person I was in 2018,” he remarked. “I’m attempting to retrace my steps.” I’m working with a new team and attempting to reinvent myself. It’s entertaining. It’s a new challenge for me, and I’m excited to see how far I can push myself.”
