Francesco Molinari is back in the Ryder Cup spotlight — and no, he won’t be teeing it up this time, but that doesn’t mean he’s stepping away from the action. The man who famously clinched the decisive half-point against Tiger Woods the last time Europe stunned the U.S. on American soil is returning as a vice captain under Luke Donald for September’s showdown at Bethpage Black.
And if you’re sensing a little déjà vu here, you’re not wrong — Molinari, along with his brother Edoardo, Thomas Bjørn, and José MarÃa Olazábal, were all part of Donald’s winning support crew in Rome just last year.
A Ryder Cup Legend Returns in a New Role
If you’ve forgotten just how clutch Francesco Molinari has been in Ryder Cup lore, here’s a reminder: in 2018, he became the first European ever to go a perfect 5-0 in a single Ryder Cup.
That was at Le Golf National in Paris, where Thomas Bjørn’s team stunningly dismantled the Americans. Oh, and a few months before that? He took down Carnoustie and became the first Italian to win a major by lifting the Claret Jug. Not bad for a guy who doesn’t do a whole lot of fist-pumping.
The Bethpage Challenge Awaits
This time around, Molinari won’t be hitting drives or sinking clutch putts — he’ll be dishing out wisdom from behind the ropes. And that might be exactly what Team Europe needs at Bethpage Black. This isn’t just any golf course. This is New York. Loud, rowdy, ruthless — especially if you’re wearing blue instead of red, white, and blue. Home field advantage is obviously a huge advantage for Team USA.
“It is going to be a big challenge at Bethpage,” Molinari said in Monday’s announcement, highlighting how rare it is for Europe to win on U.S. soil. “But it is a big opportunity to try to do something that… will be remembered for a long, long time.”
A Veteran’s Perspective from Medinah
Back in 2012, Molinari stood across from Tiger Woods at Medinah during one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history — the so-called “Miracle at Medinah.” That half-point sealed a European win that seemed downright impossible halfway through Sunday. Now, he’s hoping today’s stars can pull off something just as epic in a venue that might be even more hostile.
Luke Donald clearly values that steady Molinari presence, calling him calm, thoughtful, and composed — all traits you’d want in a pressure cooker like the Ryder Cup. Especially one being held in the raucous jungle that is Bethpage Black.
So come September 26-28, while Rory, Rahm, and Fleetwood do the heavy lifting, expect Molinari to be in the mix — guiding, calming, and maybe, just maybe, helping Europe to pull off another miracle on enemy turf.
