Francesco Molinari is expected to primarily compete on the PGA Tour over the European Tour in 2019, according to the Associated Press. The 36-year-old Italian golfer might not play in Europe until July when he defends his Open Championship title at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
Between his desire to play more events on the U.S. golf circuit and the changes being made to the Euro Tour calendar in 2019, Molinari will not have many available dates to play in Europe this upcoming season. Molinari has yet to commit to the British Masters, an event hosted by his good friend and Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood.
“I would like to play the British Masters but it depends probably on the first couple of months of the season,” Molinari said. “If I learnt one thing this season, it is to be a bit flexible with the schedule playing two tours.”
This past season was the best of Molinari’s professional career. Along with earning his first major title at Carnoustie, Molinari was the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year and Race to Dubai Champion in 2018. Before his British Open victory this past summer, Molinari’s best finish at a major was his second place finish at the 2017 PGA Championship. It was the first major victory ever by an Italian professional golfer.
Molinari also earned wins in 2018 at the BMW PGA Championship and the Quicken Loans National, which was his first PGA Tour win. It was the first PGA Tour win for an Italian golfer since 1947.
Molinari, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the world, capped off his year with a perfect 5-0-0 record at the Ryder Cup in France. He was the first European golfer ever to go 5-0-0, as he and Fleetwood came together to form “Moliwood” and win all four fourball and foursome matches. He finished the tournament off with a singles match victory over Phil Mickelson.
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