Francesco Molinari is hopeful he is “on a good path” and could soon return to the winner’s circle as he begins a busy stretch on the DP World Tour at the Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO.
The Italian returns to action in China aiming to pick up from where he left off, having finished in a tie for fourth on his last start at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.
Coupled with the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player in December, it was his second top ten of the season and means he comes into this week in 22nd place on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World.
“It’s been a good start (to the season) – a little bit start-stop, because obviously I played Sun City and then stopped for the holidays, started again in Dubai and then had another break the last few weeks,” he told the DP World Tour.
“Confidence is good, it’s pretty high, definitely getting better.
"I might be a little rusty coming into this week, but having said that, the weather at home in Italy has been getting better so the practice getting into this week has definitely been better than what it was getting into Dubai.
"So, I’m hoping for another good week and keep going with those results for as long as possible."
Molinari is confirmed to play at next week’s Hero Indian Open, while he is also planning on playing at the Turkish Airlines Open – the final event of the Asian Swing, from April 30 to May 3.
While there is plenty to play for, with the leading three players on the rankings at the end of the Swing securing berths at the US PGA Championship, the 43-year-old is not looking too far ahead and enjoying being on the road again.
"It’s places that I’ve seen in the past, I’ve played in in the past, but I haven’t been in quite a while, so it’s nice to be back and relive the experiences," he added.
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"I’m just trying to do well but also taking it as a chance to see some places that I haven’t seen in quite a while."
Molinari is without a win worldwide since he lifted the Claret Jug at The Open in 2018, the same year he contributed five points from five as Europe won the Ryder Cup and claimed the Race to Dubai title.
In recent seasons, Molinari endured a drop in form and fell outside the world’s top 500 last year but since reuniting with swing coach Denis Pugh, with whom he enjoyed the best times of his career, confidence and results are now coming his way.
"It’s been good, since the summer of last year, getting back with Denis, and getting his feedback and slowly improving and getting better," he said.
"I’ve seen him once in these weeks that I was at home – he came to Italy to practise one day, and we just kept pretty much the same work going.
"There wasn’t any major changes but I think we’re on a good path. It seems like there’s been a little bit more of an improvement the last few weeks.
"I know golf well enough that that doesn’t necessarily mean better results in the short term, but you never know – at the same time, why not?
"If I play well, hopefully I can improve on the results in Dubai and Sun City, and keep the form going. I think it would be nice to keep gaining some momentum over the next two weeks before another small break, so we will see what happens."
Among the most experienced players on the DP World Tour, Molinari - a vice captain for Europe at the past two Ryder Cups - is making his first appearance in China since the 2019 WGC-HSBC Champions.
This week sees both 72-hole stroke play and a 36-hole team event, as one professional plays alongside an amateur before the top 65 and ties in the field make the cut.
The opening two rounds wil be played across two courses at Mission Hills Haikou - the Blackstone and Vintage - with the professionals playing the Blackstone over the weekend.
And while he did not play at the inaugural Hainan Classic last year, Molinari is not a stranger to the Blackstone course at Mission Hills.
It was in 2011 that he and brother Edoardo made their title defence at the World Cup of Golf, won by American pair Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar.
"I sort of remember the place, but it will be nice to be back on the same golf course after so many years," he said.
"The Blackstone, for now I’ve got some vague memories of. I’ve got a good, general idea of what it looks like. I don’t remember too many individual holes, but I’m sure after tomorrow I will remember most of them.
"The Vintage I played today. It’s interesting, some wide fairways and some not so wide, especially towards the end, the last four or five holes. Some funky greens, very big slopes.
"The greens are actually quite big but the portion of the green where they can put the flag is not that big, so irons to the green are important because you don’t want to be putting from too far away or chipping.
"I think it’s a good test, especially in the afternoon when the wind picks up a little bit."
