Winning Continental Europe captain Francesco Molinari is confident that European golf is on an upward trajectory ahead of September’s Ryder Cup in Rome.
The famed ‘Moliwood’ was split this week as Molinari came up against Tommy Fleetwood who captained Great Britain and Ireland, but it was the Italian who was left smiling at the end as his charges won three out of four sessions to complete a 14.5 to 10.5 victory.
While Victor Perez, Guido Migliozzi and Nicolai Hojgaard impressed for Continental Europe, the captain also led by example with 3.5 points while Robert MacIntyre carried the GB&I fight with three points.
The 2019 Open champion is excited by the future.
“I think we showed some great golf in the last few days – both teams.
“I think both teams showed a very competitive but fair spirit. Obviously to my guys – incredible job. I’m super proud of each one of you.
“I got to know some guys that I didn’t know very well and I can say that European golf is in very safe hands.”
His opposite number Fleetwood came away on the losing side after his troops were beaten in four of the last five Sunday singles matches which ultimately saw the tie get away from his team.
“Obviously we came here to win and we wanted to do it for each other but at the end of the day, the first thing that I said at the start of the week was ‘team-mates don’t remember if you play bad or you miss a putt or you lose a point but everybody remembers if you don’t give it 100 percent’, and I couldn’t have asked for any more from anybody this week.
“It’s been amazing and it’s been an amazing experience for me.
“I wish we could have got it done but at the same time, you remember these moments forever and you cherish them.”
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