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Cape Town - Edoardo Molinari is dreaming of tasting victory on home soil as the European Tour returns to Verdura Golf Club for this week's Sicilian Open.
The 37-year-old has three European Tour titles to his name, with last year's Trophee Hassan II win following two victories in Scotland in 2010, and the home favourite has his sights set on adding to that tally this week along the Sicilian coast.
"It's great to be back in Italy. This week is a bit more of a relaxed week. I brought the family down and we're staying at this fantastic resort, the weather is beautiful so I’m really looking forward to this week as well," said Molinari.
"The venue is fantastic, everyone who played last year I think really enjoyed it. This year is going to be even better, the golf course, is in ever better shape than it was last year and the weather is going to be fantastic like always down here in Sicily, so I'm sure everyone playing this week will have an enjoyable week.
"I think it's going to be windy most of the week, so
usually whoever will win will be a good player in windy conditions. Other than
that, you have to be in control of your iron shots because the greens tend to
be quite firm, so with this wind and firm greens it will be quite difficult to
get the ball close," he said.
"It would be fantastic. Obviously, it's a slightly smaller event this week than the Italian Open, but again, it's one of only two events on Italian soil so it would be fantastic to win on home ground."
Fellow countryman Matteo Manassero is also happy to be home and is looking to build on an encouraging week at the China Open. The four-time European Tour winner finished 20th in his last outing in Beijing and is hoping to string four solid rounds together once again this week.
With 23 Italians in the field this week, 29-year-old Nino Bertasio is looking to capitalise on his recent form having enjoyed a strong start to the season, with a tie for fifth at the Maybank Championship in February already to his name.
Andrea Pavan, who is currently 39th in the Race to Dubai Rankings, is another in great form heading into the European summer, missing just two cuts out of his ten European Tour events this season and recording five top 20 results, including a tied third finish at Trophée Hassan II.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Gagli has also been impressing this season playing on both the European Tour and Challenge Tour.
The 32-year-old is leading the way on the Challenge Tour after winning the Barclays Kenya Open and taking a share of second at the Turkish Airlines Challenge, and will be looking to please the home crowds when he plays in his eighth European Tour event of 2018.
