LONDON: Francesco Molinari is looking to end a fairytale season by becoming the European No. 1 at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, which starts today, and the first Italian to achieve the feat.
2018 has been an incredible year for Molinari, with a maiden Major victory in the Open Championship in July, which followed a first Rolex event victory at the BMW PGA Championship in May. He has also not missed a single cut this season, a run that extends over four years in regular European Tour events.
And in a glorious Ryder Cup for the Europeans, he became the first player from the continent to win five points out of five, while securing the winning point in his singles match against USA’s Phil Mickelson.
Speaking to journalists ahead of today’s tee-off, the Italian said: “It feels incredible, a new position for me, I’ve never been here in the past.
“I think it’s just a consequence and a sign of an incredible season. I would have never guessed that I would be here in this position if you told me in April or May this year but it’s been an incredible summer, topped by an unbelievable Ryder Cup.
“Really, it’s a dream season for me and it’s nice to be here in this position. Hopefully I’ll be able to close it out. I know it’s not going to be easy and I’m not making any assumptions but I’ll do my best on the course to do the job.
And when asked about his prospects of winning the Harry Vardon trophy this weekend, he said: “You can have the best week of your life and win one tournament but to win a competition that lasts throughout the season, with the amount of talent there is right now on the European Tour, is something really hard to do but it’s also still hard to figure out for me how I’m here in this position.”
Molinari needs to finish tied-fifth or better at the Jumeirah Golf Estates to seal the Race to Dubai crown, but Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood — the man he formed such a strong bond with in Paris — is the only man who can prevent him the perfect ending.
Victory for the Englishman on the Earth Course is the only way he can deny Molinari the title, but the Italian was full of praise for his “best friend” and would not begrudge Fleetwood if he successfully defended his Race to Dubai crown.
“I know we said this and we’re going to sound really cheesy but if I don’t win, I’d rather see him win than anyone else,” he said.
“We really are good friends and he’s had an amazing season. To think that he won last year and to come here, still with a chance to win two in a row, it’s incredible, really.
“So fair play to him. What I can say for me is that it’s been a great season and however it goes this week, I’m still going to have lots of great memories from all of what I’ve done this year, and probably the best memory is what we’ve done together with him in France.
“I can’t really be mad at him, even if he wins.”
If Molinari wins this weekend, it would make him just the third player in history to win multiple Rolex Series events and he praised the introduction of the European Tour’s prestige level of tournaments.
“There’s a few events that we target every year,” he said. “It’s great for us to have the opportunity to play in such special tournaments.
“Especially for guys like me, playing a home event in Italy that is part of the Rolex Series, just gives a completely new meaning to the Italian Open.”
Francesco Molinari looking for ‘dream’ end to season in Dubai at DP World Tour Championship
Francesco Molinari looking for ‘dream’ end to season in Dubai at DP World Tour Championship
- 2018 has been an incredible year for Molinari
- If Molinari wins this weekend, it would make him just the third player in history to win multiple Rolex Series events
Motorsport hero Valentino Rossi gives his verdict on Jeddah street circuit
- BMW driver competing in Saudi Arabia for first time says: ‘I really like the atmosphere’
- Rossi chasing victory in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe final round
JEDDAH: After finishing his opening laps on Jeddah Corniche on the first day of the final round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, Italian race car driver and former motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi said that racing at the Jeddah Circuit is both an exciting and challenging experience.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the day, Rossi said that he enjoyed the experience behind the wheel on the fastest street circuit in the world.
“First of all, let me say that this is my first time in Saudi Arabia and I really like the atmosphere. We are really enjoying our stay while competing.
“Regarding the circuit, it is surrounded by walls as it is a street circuit, which makes the race more difficult with 49 cars racing on the circuit at the same time.
The Italian racing legend — known as “The Doctor” because of his clinical dismantling of opponents — said: “My first impression was OK. It is very slippery and you have to go fast between the walls, but in the end we got used to it through the last two days since we arrived.”
He added: “It is well known that street circuits often require extra effort from drivers. The walls are very close to the track.”
The BMW factory driver told Arab News that he is enjoying competing in the GT World Challenge Europe, and hopes to continue with a positive result on the final day on Saturday.
“We really had a good season and our performance is getting better in the hope to bring a successful result Saturday night,” he said.
The seven-time MotoGP world champion retired from MotoGP in 2021, and is currently competing in both the World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge Europe for BMW.
Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq
- In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes
JEDDAH: Karim Benzema returned to action in style Saturday as Al-Ittihad won 4-0 at Ettifaq, scoring one and recording two assists to help the leaders stay on top of the Saudi Pro League.
In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes. A beautiful short pass inside the area from N’Golo Kante took out three defenders to leave Benzema to sweep home from close range but VAR ruled that he had been just offside.
The roles were reversed eight minutes later and this time the goal stood. Benzema picked up possession in a crowded situation just outside the area, slipped a little pass to his right for Kante to burst into the box in a central occasion to fire home a low shot.
Eight minutes after the restart, Benzema got his goal. Marek Rodak got down well to save a fierce shot from Steven Bergwijn and there was the French striker to show his goal scoring instinct to pounce upon the rebound to put the ball into an empty net. It was a ninth goal of the season that puts him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in the standings, three behind Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Two more goals came in quick succession midway through the second half. After 66 minutes Houssem Aouar made it three and then Bergwijn added to Ettifaq’s pain four minutes later, running clear of the defence to score after a fine pass from Benzema.
It was harsh on the home team who have now gone nine league games without a win. The pressure was already on head coach Steven Gerrard but the Liverpool legend and his team are now just three points clear of the relegation zone. Next comes a tricky away trip to Al-Khaleej.
Al-Ittihad meanwhile are riding high.
Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas
- Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick
- They have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win
BARCELONA: Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Spanish league leader were stunned 2-1 by Las Palmas on Saturday.
Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and were flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They had won all eight home games overall.
But they have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Prior to the loss to Las Palmas, they fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo.
Madrid, despite their own troubles especially in the Champions League, can now move ahead of Barcelona in the Spanish league. They trail Barcelona by four points with two games more to play.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphina’s equalizer.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that had sidelined with for three weeks as a halftime substitute, but Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also did well to palm a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.
Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title
- Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second
LUSAIL, Qatar: McLaren neared its first Formula 1 constructors’ title in 26 years as Lando Norris handed Oscar Piastri victory in a one-two finish for the team in the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday.
Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second.
Norris gave the lead to Piastri with the finish line in sight, paying his teammate back for gifting him a win in the sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still fighting Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Russell finished third.
Verstappen — crowned the drivers’ champion last week in Las Vegas — finished eighth and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was last after a pit stop to change his car’s nose.
Qualifying takes place later Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.
Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti
- “Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference
- “It’s not a problem about one player”
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s struggles this season are due to his team’s overall lack of consistency.
The French forward missed a penalty as Spanish and European champions Real Madrid lost on Wednesday in the Champions League against Liverpool, their third defeat in five matches in the competition.
Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticized for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.
“Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against Getafe.
“It’s not a problem about one player, the problem that we have is one of a team that has not been capable of being consistent. It’s not a problem about one player.
“We have to try and improve that, do everything we can... among other things (Mbappe) is new here and adapting, among other things he’s scored eight goals and has participated in attack, giving assists.
“Yes he can play better, but we can all do better and we will try to.”
Mbappe was not included in the last two France squad lists and has also had off-field issues to deal with during his first months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is absolutely not sunken, he knows he has to improve like we all do... he’s being scrutinized after the Liverpool game because he missed a penalty, like many of my players have,” continued Ancelotti.
The coach said the Liverpool defeat was partly due to losing players through injury, including Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao among others, but that Brazilian winger Rodrygo was fit to face Getafe.
Madrid, second, trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, albeit having played one fewer match.
“I am like Mbappe, I am trying to give my best version,” said Ancelotti.
“Results say that I have not been capable of doing that. I’m not happy... but I’m convinced we will fix it, like we always fix it.”
