Francesco Molinari, a new beginning

The wait is over, after a troubled 2020, for Francesco Molinari. The italian returns to the field: he will be among the protagonists of The American Express, the PGA Tour tournament scheduled from tomorrow to Sunday (January 21-24) in California. In La Quinta the Turin player opens 2021 with goals to be achieved. From the Tokyo Olympics to the Wisconsin Ryder Cup, passing through the many and important events scheduled in the world golf calendar.

Francesco Molinari at The American Express

The last appearance of Francesco Molinari was at the Masters Tournament. Then, two months off. Now a new beginning for "Laser Frankie" which, on the two different courses of the PGA West, the Nicklaus Tournament Course and the Stadium Course (the only competition field of the third and fourth rounds of The American Express), will face champions of the discipline such as, among others, the Americans Patrick Cantlay, Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka. Phil Mickelson is also in the field. The American Andrew Landry will defend the title. While the great absentee will be Jon Rahm (world number 2), forced to skip The American Express due to a back injury. Out, because positive for Covid, Donald Ronald Trahan. Michael Gellerman will play in his place. The tournament will offer a total prize pool of $ 6,700,000.

In the same weeked, after more than a month, the European Tour returns with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the inaugural event of 2021 scheduled from 21 to 24 January in the United Arab Emirates. Immediately a show appointment in Abu Dhabi with the first of the four seasonal events of the Rolex Series, which will offer a total prize money of 8,000,000 dollars.

From Justin Thomas, world number 3, to Rory McIlroy, sixth in the ranking. Up to Lee Westwood (2020 Race to Dubai winner and reigning champion) and Tyrrell Hatton (ninth in the world rankings). These are some of the most anticipated big names in the competition. But in the field there are also 7 italians. With Renato Paratore also Guido Migliozzi, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Laporta, Andrea Pavan, Lorenzo Gagli and Nino Bertasio.

In an event that sees the beginninf of the collaboration between Eurotour and PGA Tour. In addition to Thomas - who aims to take second place in the ranking, taking advantage of Jon Rahm's forfeit in The American Express, due to back problems - among the very champions in the race, like Justin Rose (winner of the Rio de Janeiro Games 2016), Shane Lowry (scored in 2019 in Abu Dhabi) and Tommy Fleetwood (champion in 2019 who turns 30 today), often in action on the maximum US circuit. Also on the field Padraig Harrington, captain of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup 2021 in Wisconsin.

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