Golf-Molinaris hope World Cup triumph will boost Italian game (Reuters)
November 29, 2009
By Nick Mulvenney
SHENZHEN, China, Nov 29 (Reuters) – The Molinari brothersare confident their triumph at the 55th World Cup on Sunday willboost the game in Italy but they know golf is not going toovertake soccer in the popularity stakes any time soon.
The siblings shot a final round four-under-par 68, theirworst score of the week, to beat strong Ireland and Sweden teamsat Mission Hills and win Italy the John Jay Hopkins trophy forthe first time.
“It’s not going to be easy to overtake football, but I think(our win) is going to be big obviously because any World Cup inany sport is really big,” said Francesco.
“Hopefully the game is growing a bit more now … and Ithink it will definitely help to grow the number of golfers.”
The victory in their third World Cup together capped asuccessful year for both brothers.
The 27-year-old Francesco had seven top 10 finishes on theEuropean Tour and broke into the world top 50 for the firsttime.
Former U.S. Amateur champion Edoardo claimed three titles onEurope’s junior circuit to become Challenger Tour champion andwon the $2.5 million Dunlop Phoenix in Japan last week.
Costantino Rocca, who racked up five European Tour wins andfinished second at the 1995 British Open, remains theircountry’s most successful player.
“Probably Costantino almost winning the Open and winning theRyder Cup, it’s maybe a bit higher up than us,” said the 2006Italian Open champion Francesco.
“But I think we are just below that and it feels amazing.”
Rocca helped Europe to Ryder Cup victories in 1995 and 1997and after showing what a great partnership they made this weekthe brothers do harbour faint hopes of making ColinMontgomerie’s team for Celtic Manor next year.
“I think it’s pretty much for both of us to keep improvingthe world rankings and the European rankings and maybe have alittle thought on the Ryder Cup,” Francesco said. “But it’sgoing to be really, really hard to make the team.”
(Editing by Kevin Fylan. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
((nick.mulvenney@thomsonreuters.com; +8610 6627 1282;Reuters messaging: nick.mulvenney.reuters.com@reuters.net. Forthe new Reuters sports blog Left Field:http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/))
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