Edoardo Molinari
Edoardo Molinari (born 11 February 1981) is an Italian professional golfer who plays on the European Tour, where he is a three-time winner. He was also the 2005 U.S. Amateur champion; 2009 Challenge Tour Rankings leader; winner, with his brother Francesco, of the 2009 World Cup; and a member of the 2010 European Ryder Cup winning team. He has won professional tournaments on four of six continents on which golf is played: Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. He is a Vice-Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Marco Simone, Italy. Background Molinari was born in Turin to Micaela, a now retired architect, and Paolo Molinari, a dentist. He began to accompany his father to the golf course at age eight. Molinari speaks fluent English and Spanish in addition to Italian. In spring 2012, he married his longtime girlfriend, Anna Roscio, at a church ceremony in Turin. Roscio caddied for Molinari at the 2010 Masters Par-3 Tournament. Denis Pugh, of London, serves as a swing coach to both Molinari brothers. He postponed retirement to work with the Molinari brothers, and he helped to rebuild Edoardo's swing, moving from hitting predominantly draws to fading the ball. Molinari is nicknamed "Dodo" because his younger brother, Francesco, could not pronounce "Edoardo" as a child. He continues to live in Turin and to represent his home club, Circolo Golf Torino. His interests include the Juventus Football (soccer) club and the Internet. He is considered one of the most emotional players on the European Tour and one of the most attractive players on the tour. He is also considered very popular with his fellow competitors on tour, many of whom advocated his selection to the 2010 European Ryder Cup team. Molinari is now working with Irish caddie Colin Byrne, who has earned 20 wins with other golfers such as South African major champion Retief Goosen. Amateur career During a distinguished amateur career, Molinari won several national championships. The undisputed highlight of his amateur career came in 2005, when he became the first Italian and the first Continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. He claimed the title by holing a 25-foot birdie putt on the 33rd hole to win 4 & 3 over the American Dillon Dougherty. As a result of that victory, Molinari qualified to play in the 2006 U.S. Masters, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. His younger brother Francesco, who is also a professional golfer, caddied for him at that year's Masters. Professional career Molinari turned professional in 2006, after graduating from the Polytechnic University of Turin with a degree in engineering. In 2007 he won the Club Colombia Masters and the Tusker Kenya Open on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour. The two victories and his consistent play led to a 16th-place finish on the season-long money list. That success enabled him to play on the top level European Tour during the 2008 season. Molinari's play was uneven during that season due to a wrist injury, and he was unable to retain his