Golf: Migliozzi and Molinari shine in Abu Dhabi

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 19 - Italian no 1 Guido Migliozzi and Number Two and 2018 Open winner Francesco Molinari shone in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Thursday with the Vicenza man ending his round second, a shot behind Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald who leads the pack on a -8 64, and the Torino champ sharing fifth with his elder brother Edoardo on 67 (-5).
    Edoardo Molinari, 41, will be one of the vice captains in Team Europe at the Ryder Cup in Rome on September 29-October 1, while Migliozzi and Molinari, who led the Europeans to victory in Paris in 2018, are vying for spots in the team.
    Molinari, 40, Italy's only major winner, told ANSA Monday it was his dream to play in this year's Ryder Cup in Rome after leading Europe to victory over Great 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, 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 a too important figure for the US team, with him they all feel more protected".
    Molinari said Ryder captain Donald, part of the defeated Hero Cup team led by Molinari's old Ryder partner Tommy Fleetwood, had congratulated him on the Abu Dhabi win with 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 true trial run for the highly anticipated event at Rome in the autumn.
    It was also a major chance for the two Azzurri to advance their case for inclusion by Donald in the team that will face the USA at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club outside the Italian capital from September 29 to October 1. (ANSA).