PGA Championship Power Rankings: Top 10 picks for Bellerive

This summer’s belonged to Francesco Molinari. The Italian is playing the golf of his life after the Open Championship victory capped a stretch of six events featuring three worldwide wins (BMW PGA Championship, Quicken Loans National, the Open) and two runner-ups.

Molinari shot par or better in three of four rounds last week at Firestone en route to a T39. I’ll cut him some slack in his first start since winning his first major.

The ball striking maestro is 18th on Tour in strokes gained on approaches and second tee to green. He’s also 40th in birdie average and showed he can take it low when he won the Quicken Loans by eight after a Sunday 62.

Molinari has been so good at avoiding the big mistakes. He famously played his final 37 holes at Carnoustie without a bogey. At Firestone he had just one score worse than bogey.

Prior to his Open win, a T2 last year at Quail Hollow in the 2017 PGA was his closest call in a major.

If the putter cooperates this week, you know Molinari’s going to have tons of birdie chances. We’ll see how long his hot streak can continue to go.