The Masters: Francesco Molinari on fire heading into final round

Francesco Molinari isn’t a household name for American golf fans yet. That might change on Sunday if he can hold off Tiger Woods, Tony Finau and a host of contenders for the victory at The Masters.

Francesco Molinari is on the verge of doing something few have ever dreamed of: going from the white caddie’s jumpsuit at The Masters to donning the green jacket as its champion.

That statement is funny, yes, but also completely true. It’s a sign of just how far the 36-year-old from Italy has come in his professional career. He holds a two-shot lead heading into the weather-hurried finale at Augusta National, and he’ll tee off in the final group with Tony Finau and Tiger Woods. It’s no small task, but it’s one that Molinari has proven that he’s more than ready for.

First, back to the caddie thing. Francesco’s older brother, Edoardo, won the 2005 U.S. Amateur, and with it an invitation to the 2006 Masters Tournament. He asked Francesco to caddie for him at Augusta National, and the two found themselves in the traditional early pairing with the reigning Masters champion. That year, of course, it was none other than Tiger Woods.

But this story isn’t about Tiger. It’s about the amazing progress that Molinari has made to find himself at this point. He won his first European Tour event just three weeks after that 2006 Masters, and he’s been a steady hand ever since. However, he took his game to an entirely new level over the last year or so, winning three times in 2018. Most notably, he was paired with Woods at Carnoustie in the final round of the Open Championship. Woods made a run to the top of the leaderboard, but at the end of the day, Molinari didn’t blink on his path to becoming Champion Golfer of the Year.

It’s that resolve, the proverbial “ice in his veins” that has him 18 holes away from Masters immortality. He’s handled every challenge that Augusta National can throw this week, and done it better than most. He’s made just a single bogey – on No. 11 in the first round – all week. As the Georgia rain has softened the typically treacherous greens, he’s also made 11 birdies in his last two rounds. Another round of 67 on Sunday would tie the tournament record at 18-under, and if the committee got the tee times right, the weather impact may be minimized.

Of course, he doesn’t need to go for the record. Molinari simply needs to be his unblinking self and handle his business. Finau and Woods are both capable of putting up some red numbers and firing up the patrons. But Molinari has seen this before, and come out on top. The rest of the field will need to chase him, and that’s a massive advantage.

Will Francesco Molinari make the short walk to Butler Cabin to have the green jacket draped over his shoulders by Patrick Reed? Only 18 holes of Sunday golf at the Masters stand between him and the ultimate prize in golf. If he remains unshaken, he’ll be tough to beat.