BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

September 10, 2022

Francesco Molinari

Wentworth Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You've experienced a lot of success, eight birdies for a 65. How pleased are you with that?

FRANCESCO MOLINARI: Yeah, it was a good day. Obviously with the tournament being reduced to three rounds, I had a decent first round; I went out kind of knowing that there is not a lot of time to make up ground.

So it was nice to get off to a good start, and yeah, played solid pretty much all day. A couple moments where I missed a few fairways and greens but was able to get it up-and-down most of the time.

Yeah, it's obviously nice to be here. The crowds are great, as always. It's one of my favourite tournaments of the year so nice to be here.

Q. No bogeys on the card yesterday. You haven't played since St Andrews. When there's been so much time since that's been a professional round put in, is there uncertainty about what might creep up or what you need to work on?

FRANCESCO MOLINARI: Not really because I've been working hard and working well at home. For me, it's never really been an issue coming off time home straight into a tournament. So it was nice to see this week not being different in that sense. But yeah, I've been putting some quality work at home and I think it's showing. I'm positive that in the next few months, I'll get it back to where I want it to be. I think that there's clear signals out there on the course; there's still a little bit to go, but on the up.

Q. You've had three Top 5s here and of course a victory. What would it mean to have another one here?

FRANCESCO MOLINARI: Well, it would be amazing. Obviously it's probably the best tournament on Tour in Europe outside of The Open Championship. It's an honor to have won it once. To win it twice, it would be incredible. But obviously my mind is kind of already thinking about Rome next year and that's why I take the time off at home to try and get some good work in and start the qualification here well. So hopefully I can do that.

Q. Of course, the tournament was suspended yesterday and we had a moment of silence morning marking Queen Elizabeth II. You're Italian but you used to live here. How did you find the news when you heard about it?

FRANCESCO MOLINARI: Yes, it's such an historical figure, touched so many generations. I know having lived here, obviously I know how attached people were to Queen Elizabeth. It's a shame but hopefully the transition will go smoothly.

But it was nice for us to get back out on the course and pay respect to the Queen and hopefully everyone is going to enjoy some good golf today and that we help feeling a little bit better.