Luke Donald has named Italian Francesco Molinari as his fifth and final Vice Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup to be played at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, from September 26 – October 1, 2023.
Molinari joins his brother Edoardo, Thomas Bjørn, Nicolas Colsaerts and José MarÃa Olazábal in Donald’s European backroom team for the biennial contest against the United States, which will be played in Italy for the first time.
The 40-year-old became Italy’s first Major Champion when he won The Open at Carnoustie in 2018. Later that year he became the first European player to win the maximum five points from five matches as Europe reclaimed the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, in Paris, formed an iconic partnership with Englishman Tommy Fleetwood that earned the duo the nickname ‘Moliwood’.
Molinari made his Ryder Cup debut with his older brother Edoardo at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales in 2010 and was also part of Team Europe for the Miracle in Medinah two years later, splitting half of his singles match with Tiger Woods as Olazabal’s team claimed a famous 14½ -13½ victory in Chicago.
In January this year, Molinari led Continental Europe to victory as playing Captain in the inaugural edition of the Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi, a team match play event introduced by Donald to help prepare Team Europe for the next Ryder Cup month. He has also played in three editions of the Seve Trophy and in total, he has won six times on the DP World Tour, including twice on home soil, claiming the Italian Open in 2006 and 2016.
Molinari said: “I am very proud to be part of Luke’s team. I started the year hoping to go there as a player, but it was a great honor to go there as Vice Captain.
“I received a phone call from Luke asking if I was interested and obviously it was a clear answer from me. He has assembled a very good group of people. Many of them are close to me in different way. We all share the stage together in some form and that helps when it comes to decision time and putting Luke and the players in the best conditions possible to perform at their best.
“The coolest moment I had at the Ryder Cup was making my debut with Edoardo in Wales and experiencing for the first time what it means to be part of the European Team. It was very special to be with him again in Rome.
“It’s a proud moment any time you wear the shirt with the European badge. It’s a Ryder Cup very close to my heart to play in Rome so I’ll do everything I can to help Luke and the team and hope to bring the trophy back to Europe.
Captain Donald said: “I chose Francesco because he has a lot of experience in Ryder Cups and he is a Major winner. He has an amazing individual career, but he is also Italian. I want him there regardless, playing or Vice Captain. With his brother there too, I think it will be very special, to have Edoardo and Francesco in my team representing Team Europe but also representing Italy.
“Francesco is a hero of Italy. He has a lot of respect for the Italian people for what he has done for the game of golf. Certainly that respect is also from me and I could not be happier to finish my Vice Captains with to him.
Automatic qualification for Donald’s 12-man European Team ends on Sunday September 3. So far, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland have confirmed their places, with an additional three automatic spots available. Donald will then announce his six choices for Captain at 2pm (BST) on Monday 4 September.