Francesco Molinari Bio
Francesco Molinari (born 8 November 1982) is an Italian professional golfer who plays on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is best known for winning the 2018 Open Championship, his first and only major victory, and the first major won by an Italian professional golfer. Molinari has been a consistent presence inside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking from November 2008 through November 2020.
Born and raised in Turin, Italy, Molinari has built a career that includes team success in the Ryder Cup and individual titles across multiple continents. He turned professional in 2004 and has since become one of the most successful Italian golfers in the history of the sport, recognized with multiple European Tour honours in 2018, including the Race to Dubai title and the Golfer of the Year award.
Early Life and Background
Francesco Molinari was born on 8 November 1982 in Turin, Italy. He is the younger brother of Edoardo Molinari, who is also a professional golfer and a familiar partner in team events. Growing up in Turin, Molinari was introduced to golf at a young age and developed his game through the Italian amateur system.
As an amateur, Molinari won the Italian Amateur Stroke Play Championship twice and added the Italian Match Play Championship in 2004. His results on the amateur circuit positioned him as one of the most promising Italian players of his generation and prepared him for the transition to the professional ranks later that same year. He currently resides between Turin, Italy, and London, England.
Off the course, Molinari graduated from the University of Turin with a degree in economics, giving him a strong academic foundation alongside his sporting career. He is married to his wife, Valentina, and the couple has built their life around his global playing schedule.
Path to Professional Golf
Molinari turned professional in 2004 and quickly earned his European Tour card for the 2005 season through qualifying school. His rookie year on the European Tour saw him finish 86th on the Order of Merit, a modest start that gave him valuable experience at the highest level of European competition.
In May 2006, Molinari claimed his first European Tour victory at the Telecom Italia Open, becoming the first Italian winner on the tour since Massimo Mannelli in 1980. That win helped him finish 38th on the Order of Merit and signalled his arrival as a contender. Although he did not win again between 2007 and 2009, he recorded twenty top-10 finishes, including three runner-up results, and climbed to 14th in the Race to Dubai in 2009. In October 2009, he reached the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time, confirming his status as a rising international player.
Francesco Molinari Career
Early Career (2004–2009)
Molinari’s earliest professional years were defined by steady improvement and his breakthrough Telecom Italia Open win in 2006. The victory made him a symbol of a new wave of Italian golf and earned him a regular place in European Tour events. By the end of 2009, he had built a consistent record of top finishes and entered the top 50 of the world rankings.
The period also included his first taste of team success. In October 2009, Molinari partnered with his older brother Edoardo to lead Italy to its first World Cup victory at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China. The result foreshadowed the team achievements that would later define his Ryder Cup career.
World Stage Breakthrough (2010–2012)
On 7 November 2010, Molinari won the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, defeating Lee Westwood by one stroke at 19-under par. The victory moved him to 14th in the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest position at that point in his career, and established him as a world-class talent.
Later in 2010, Molinari represented Europe at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor Resort, pairing with his brother Edoardo in team play. He then faced Tiger Woods in singles, losing 4 and 3, as Europe edged the United States 14½–13½. In 2012, Molinari secured his third European Tour title at the Reale Seguros Open de España, closing with a tournament-best 65 to win by three strokes, and helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup in dramatic fashion, halving his singles match against Tiger Woods as Europe rallied from 10–6 down on the final day.
Transatlantic Period (2013–2017)
Although Molinari did not win a tournament in 2013 or 2014, his steady ranking inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking allowed him to play several PGA Tour events as a non-member. He reached three top-10 finishes during this stretch, highlighted by a sixth-place result at the 2014 Players Championship, and these performances earned him a full PGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season.
Splitting his time between the European Tour and the PGA Tour in 2015 and 2016, Molinari collected a third-place finish at the 2015 Memorial Tournament and runner-up results at the 2015 Open de España and the 2016 Open de France. In September 2016, he became the first Italian to win the Italian Open twice, edging Danny Willett by one shot. The period cemented his reputation as a reliable performer on both sides of the Atlantic.
Major Champion Era (2018–2019)
The 2018 season became the defining year of Molinari’s career. He captured his fifth European Tour title and first Rolex Series event at the BMW PGA Championship in May, beating Rory McIlroy by two strokes. Weeks later, he won the Quicken Loans National by eight strokes after a closing 62, becoming the first Italian to win on the PGA Tour since 1947. At the 2018 Open Championship, he finished at 8-under par, paired with Tiger Woods in the final round, to claim his first major title.
Molinari then became the first player in Ryder Cup history to go 5–0–0, pairing with Tommy Fleetwood to win all four team sessions and defeating Phil Mickelson in singles as Europe routed the United States 17½–10½ at Le Golf National. He closed the season by winning the Race to Dubai on 18 November 2018, earning a $1,250,000 bonus. His 2019 campaign included a third PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he fired a final-round 64, and a tied-fifth finish at the Masters after holding a share of the lead through much of the final round.
Driving Style and Strengths
Molinari is widely recognized for his calm temperament, precise iron play, and disciplined course management. He excels in windy and demanding conditions, where his low ball flight and accuracy off the tee become significant advantages. Since 2018, he has worked with performance coach Dave Alred on the mental side of his game, an approach that helped him thrive under the pressure of the 2018 Open Championship and the Ryder Cup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his 2018 Open Championship triumph, Molinari’s milestone moments include his 2010 WGC-HSBC Champions win, his 5–0–0 performance at the 2018 Ryder Cup, and his three Ryder Cup appearances on winning European teams in 2010, 2012, and 2018. His 2018 season also brought him the European Tour Golfer of the Year, the Players’ Player of the Year, and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year awards.
Francesco Molinari Career Wins
Francesco Molinari has built a versatile winning record across the European Tour, the PGA Tour, and team competitions. His victories include a major championship, a World Golf Championships event, a Rolex Series title, and multiple team trophies with Europe and Italy.
European Tour Highlights
Molinari has recorded at least six European Tour victories, beginning with the 2006 Telecom Italia Open and including the 2010 WGC-HSBC Champions, the 2012 Reale Seguros Open de España, the 2016 Italian Open, and the 2018 BMW PGA Championship. His Race to Dubai title in 2018 capped a dominant European campaign and placed him level with Costantino Rocca for the most European Tour wins by an Italian.
Other Wins and Performances
Alongside his individual titles, Molinari won the 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup alongside his brother Edoardo, providing Italy with its only victory in that event. He has also posted runner-up finishes at the Scottish Open and the Open de France, and a tied-fifth result at the Masters, his best performance in that major to date.
Francesco Molinari Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Molinari comes from a close sporting family, with his older brother Edoardo Molinari also a professional golfer. The brothers have regularly partnered in team events, most notably at the 2009 World Cup in China and at the 2010 Ryder Cup, reflecting a strong family connection to the game at the highest level.
Personal Life
Molinari is married to his wife, Valentina, and divides his time between residences in Turin, Italy, and London, England. He is a supporter of Italian football club Internazionale and also follows West Ham United, a preference shaped by his appreciation for former Italian manager Gianfranco Zola. Molinari also serves as an ambassador for Borne, a medical research charity focused on the causes of premature birth.
2025 Season Performance
As the 2025 season unfolds, Francesco Molinari continues to balance his schedule between the European Tour and the PGA Tour, drawing on more than two decades of professional experience. His focus remains on contending in major championships and maintaining a strong presence in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Molinari’s pathway back to top form has been supported by his long-standing work with performance coach Dave Alred, an arrangement that has shaped his mental approach to tournament golf since 2018. Steady ball-striking and a comfort in tough conditions continue to define his play, allowing him to compete on varied course setups across both tours.
With the Ryder Cup cycle and major championships ahead, Molinari’s 2025 outlook centres on selective scheduling, measured preparation, and pursuing another signature victory to add to a career highlighted by the 2018 Open Championship and a perfect Ryder Cup record.