Italy's only major golf winner, 2018 Open champ Francesco Molinari, has said it is his dream to play in this year's Ryder Cup in Rome after leading Europe to victory over Greta Britain and Ireland in the Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
"The Ryder Cup in Rome is a dream I want to achieve, my top goal for this year," said Turin-born 'Chicco’, 40, who starred in Europe's last Ryder Cup win in France the same year as his Open triumph.
"Playing it in Italy, at home, would be fantastic.
"And my personal opinion is that Tiger Woods, in one way or another, will be involved in the event.
"He's too important a figure for the US team, with him they all feel more protected."
Molinari said Ryder captain Luke Donald, part of the defeated Hero Cup team led by Molinari's old Ryder partner Tommy Fleetwood, had congratulate him on the Abu Dhabi win with Italian No 1 Guido Migliozzi also in the Europe team.
"The experience was important," said Molinari, who added that he was thinking of coming back to live in his native Turin.
The Hero Cup format was similar to the Ryder Cup and it was a true trial run for the highly anticipated event in Rome this autumn.
