“I’m happy and proud to take on this important role,” Italy’s only major winner, nicknamed ‘Chicco’, said after he was announced as Europe's fifth and final vice captain.
Molinari joins brother Edoardo, Spaniard José María Olazábal, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Dane Thomas Bjorn as Englishman Donald’s deputies.
“I thank Luke Donald for thinking of me, he’s a great captain,” Molinari said.
Donald has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup four times as a player, each time as part of a winning team, including in 2012 when he led Team Europe out in the Singles, securing the first blue point on the board in the ‘Miracle at Medinah’.
He has also served as a vice captain in the last two editions of the biennial contest, under Bjørn in 2018 and Pádraig Harrington last year.
“I find my brother Edoardo and it’s a circle that closes, I played with him in my first Ryder Cup (at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010) and with him I’ll be among the vice captains of Team Europe in Rome,” Molinari, 40, who has played in three Ryder Cups and in 2018 became the first European to get six points from six matches, said.
“Also from the standpoint of emotions it’s something special, but now we have to win.
“Europe can beat USA.”
ANSA
