Outspoken Edoardo Molinari lays it on the line for Ryder Cup captain

Published on Saturday 28 August 2010 19:04

Well, well. What an absorbing situation we have here, what a conundrum for Colin Montgomerie as he ponders his captain's picks for the Ryder Cup, announced tonight following the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker championship at Gleneagles.

Sitting atop the leaderboard after the third round are the remarkable Molinari brothers, champions of the world with Italy last year and now looking to most sane people like a must-have partnership at Celtic Manor in October. They'll be in the last group this afternoon, just as they were at the Scottish Open in July. It is a scenario that is so great it is almost corny.

Francesco, already safely in Monty's team, shot a superb 68 in testing conditions yesterday and leads on 10-under. Edoardo, utterly revelling in the pressure, shot 69 and is just a stroke behind his brother. Simon Dyson, who needs to win while hoping that Miguel Angel Jimenez doesn't finish in the top nine, also fronted-up in a major way and is bang in contention on 8-under. Jimenez, however, looks good for a high finish on 7-under, recovering from three consecutive bogeys on the back nine by picking up birdies on the last three holes.

And, although there is no Ryder Cup hope for Stephen Gallacher, he kept himself well in the picture with a 71 and he, like Dyson, is just two out of the lead. Marc Warren also stayed in the hunt with a 71 of his own. He's three behind.

With all due respect to everybody else, the Molinaris are the big story here, Edoardo in particular. His golf yesterday was hugely impressive, the bond with his playing partner, Dyson, a lovely feature of the day. They spurred each other on all the way, got matching birdies on the second, the seventh and the sixteenth and finished with a warm handshake and mutual tributes.

Edoardo is the more madcap of the Molinaris, much quicker to speak his mind than Francesco, who is more reserved. And Edoardo wasn't slow in laying it on the line for Monty once he finished his round. "I think I've had six top-5s this year already," he said. "And I had a win (at Loch Lomond]. Tomorrow could be the seventh top-5 of the year and I don't think some of the other candidates (Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Justin Rose, all watching with a growing sense of discomfort, you suspect] have so many top-5s. I would be very upset if I win and he doesn't pick me. If you win the last event and you don't get picked, there's something seriously wrong. I expect if I finish top-3 tomorrow he's going to pick me."

Talk about cranking up the heat on the captain.

The chemistry of the Molinaris is fascinating. They're very different animals as evidenced by Francesco's comments later in the day.Francesco was supportive of his brother's chances but was also diplomatic, recognising the qualities of the FedEx four in America while saying of his brother, "I don't think it would be wrong if he doesn't get the pick."

Saying that, he sang his praises also. Did he rememeber when they last lost a matchplay event as a pair? Yeah, he said. When they were about 13 or 14 years of age. "I think we have different games but they go well together," said Francesco. "He's a better putter than me and I'm great with the irons. When he's hitting the ball good off the tees and I'm hitting the irons on to the green, we have a lot of chances. As I said, he's a really good putter, so we can make a lot of birdies."

That sounds like a combination worth going for, doesn't it? "If he (Edoardo] is going to be there, it's going to be something even more special. You know, we have a lot of fun together."

Dyson, an impressive figure himself yesterday, had some thoughts on the Italians. "You can't help just staring at them and thinking that if he (Monty] picked him (Edoardo] and they played together, they wouldn't lose. They're comfortable together and know each other's games better than anybody and it was no surprise that they won the World Cup."

Monty had dinner last night with vice-captains Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley, and no doubt discussed what went on at Gleneagles while keeping a close eye on the action from the Barclays tournament in New Jersey, where his other wild card contenders are performing. Overnight, there was an admission from Harrington that he'd blundered by not playing in more ranking tournaments on the European Tour. "I think I'll regret not doing slightly different schedules," he said. "It was a mistake on my behalf. Considering how close I am on the money-list, I definitely should have played some more counting events and I wouldn't have this worry at the moment. Unfortunately, that's a mistake."

It's unlikely to cost him his place, though. Harrington is a certainty to be one of Monty's picks today and he can count himself deeply fortunate on that front. His Ryder Cup results in the last two events has been abysmal and his matchplay form elsewhere is dismal. Unlike Edoardo Molinari. The Italian is, metaphorially speaking, pinning Monty to the wall of the locker room and saying, "Don't you dare leave me out!".