The Masters: Top 10 power rankings at Augusta National

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AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 05: Francesco Molinari of Italy walks with caddie Pello Iguaran on the first hole during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

If you needed one player to stripe a shot for you right now, is there anyone you’d trust more than Francesco Molinari?

I wondered how he’d look after a breakout 2018 and a lengthy offseason, but the 36-year-old has it back on automatic.

The reigning Open Champion came up big on Sunday to beat a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month. He then was playing the best of golf of anyone two weeks ago at the WGC-Match Play before he ran into a red-hot Kevin Kisner in the semifinals.

Molinari will seek to improve on a decent, but far from spectacular record at Augusta. The Italian will make his eighth start at the Masters. His high finish was a T19 in 2012 followed closely by a T20 (72-74-70-70) last year. Molinari’s made five cuts.

"“It’s going to be pretty nice coming back to Augusta this year having won a major and knowing that I’m good enough to do it,” Molinari was quoted by the Augusta Chronicle."

Molinari has finished inside the top 25 majors including a T6 at the 2018 PGA Championship and T2 at the 2017 PGA.

The key will be on the greens. Molinari has long been a vaunted ball striker (10th last season in strokes gained approach) and he should be able to put himself in good spots this week. But he’ll have to convert. I like his chances as he’d been confident with the flat stick this season at 23rd SG putting.

He’s proven able to handle the big moments at the Open and Ryder Cup and is still riding that wave. The likes of Rory, Spieth and Tiger will be bigger stories this week, but Molinari is capable of adding a green jacket to his wardrobe, which already features a red one from Bay Hill.

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