Golf: Olazabal calls up Tiger-tamer

Olazabal says Molinari’s achievement in halving his singles match against Woods was vital.

SINGAPORE: European captain Jose Maria Olazabal has called up Francesco Molinari for December’s Royal Trophy after the Italian’s last-day heroics against Tiger Woods at the Ryder Cup. Olazabal, who masterminded one of golf’s great comebacks by the European team at Medinah last week, said Molinari’s achievement in halving his Sunday singles match against Woods was vital. “Francesco played superbly to earn a half against Tiger, and seeing him trading blows with America’s most famous player was great for European morale,” said the Spaniard. “The realisation that we could get something out of that match took a lot of pressure off the boys who went out earlier.” Molinari, 29, will now join his Ryder Cup teammates Paul Lawrie and Nicolas Colsaerts, as well as Colin Montgomerie in Brunei from December 14-16 as Europe defends the Royal Trophy against Joe Ozaki’s Asian team.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2012.