U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

June 17, 2021

Edoardo Molinari

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Flash Interview

Q. Edoardo, just talk about how you played today.

EDOARDO MOLINARI: I think I got off to a good start, and then bogeyed 5 from nowhere, doubled 6. It was a bit unlucky, I think. And then I started to play some really good golf. I stiffed a couple of iron shots.

I was lucky on 10 to hole a bunker shot which was a little too hard. And then same thing down the last few, kept hitting good shots. I got very unlucky on 17 because I was trying to go in the right rough and I had a bad lie but managed to get a 4, and then I think it was solid pretty much.

Q. It looks like conditions are starting to get harder. What do you think the afternoon group is going to face?

EDOARDO MOLINARI: Yeah, it looks like it's going to be a little bit harder. First thing in the morning there was no wind at all. The greens were firm but not silly firm, and it was just, I think, very difficult with the pace of the greens this morning because obviously they were freshly cut and it was running like crazy.

But then you just adjust to it pretty quickly, and there you go.

Q. When was the last time you and Francesco were kind of in contention at the same tournament together?

EDOARDO MOLINARI: Good question. I think we both had a very good start at the Open Championship in 2014, and then I think I finished top 10 and he just missed top 10 in the end. So I would say that was when he came over to play the PGA TOUR full time, I stayed in Europe, and we only played a handful of events back home, as well, together.

Q. It's been a while since you've been over here. Have you guys been able to spend some time together?

EDOARDO MOLINARI: Yeah, I mean, the last year and a half has been very difficult. I hadn't seen Francesco since the week before Christmas in 2019 up until last week, so like a year and a half. So that's why I came a day early and I went to visit him Sunday in LA where he is now living with the family, and we just had a good time and then we played a practice round together on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and we are going to go and have dinner tonight together. It's just nice to get the chance to speak with him, see him again and just spend time with him.

Q. For American fans that might have lost track of you the last few years, I know you've been doing a variety of things between playing and coaching and strategizing and building. How would you describe at a higher level your career the last few years?

EDOARDO MOLINARI: Well, my main focus was still on playing, despite the results would have suggested. Especially the last year and a half with COVID, I had a lot of downtime, as well, and I just managed to spend it properly, other than just sitting in front of a TV.

Obviously the stat thing is getting bigger and bigger, is getting more and more traction. Obviously Fitzy was the first one to start using it, and every week -- if it's in Europe I've got probably 15 guys using it, and even over here there's like six or seven each week, so it's definitely getting bigger and bigger, players speaking about it, and it just keeps me entertained.

As I said, my main focus is still on playing golf for a few more years, and as I said, my putting has been very poor in the last three, four years. My ball-striking has been as good as 2010, 2011 when I was playing really well. So hopefully I can find a decent week on the greens this week and be up there until the end.