Francesco Molinari drops hint about Europe’s Ryder Cup team selection after day two of The Open

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The Open Championship might be on everyone’s radar right now but we are just months away from The Ryder Cup and European vice-captain, Francesco Molinari, has dropped a hint over the potential squad.

Bethpage Black will play host to golf’s biggest team event in September and there is already plenty of excitement about what could be to come.

For Team Europe, it’s a chance to go to American soil and claim a historic victory after last time out in Rome saw them destroy the US.

Captain Luke Donald is very much respected across the board by Team Europe and with just 12 spots to fill, Donald knows he might have to disappoint a few favourites from 2023.

Now, one of his vice-captains, Francesco Molinari, has explained just how far down the selection process Donald and his helpers are.

Francesco Molinari’s Ryder Cup selection hint after round two at The Open

42-year-old Molinari will be a key sidekick for Donald and Europe and with a red hot atmosphere expected in New York, experience will be key on both sides.

Of course, so will the 12 selections. Every player will bring something different to the squad and according to Molinari, there is already a good feel for how the team will look.

“No, not much. Just a few chats. But there’s still a lot of golf to be played. I think some of the team is going to be very similar,” Molinari admitted at Royal Portrush.

“There’s obviously still a few spots to play for, and we’ll see. It’s been obviously good to get the call from Luke, but yeah, so far there’s not been too much work.”

As for his own game at The Open so far, Molinari seems content at what should be a good enough score to make the weekend.

“Yeah, to be honest, I’m enjoying the week here more than 2019 just because it’s a lot, I think, to come back as a defending champion. I’m enjoying definitely the course a lot more this time than six years ago. Apart from that, I’m probably playing better than I did that week. Like I said, I just need to make a few more putts,” Molinari continued.

“Yeah, I had a good time on the golf course, played well. Just need to make a few more putts, but everything else is in good shape. Course is playing fantastic. I think it’s very fair. It’s a challenge, but it’s in front of you, so let’s see what the weather does this afternoon. Hopefully it stays windy enough.”

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Team Europe’s current Ryder Cup standings

As Molinari says here, there are likely only going to be a couple of spots up for grabs for this year’s Ryder Cup.

The likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood are nailed on to be there, as are players like Ludvig Aberg and after his form this year, Justin Rose.

Beyond nine or ten players, though, there are a couple of spots up for grabs and this is where Donald will need to assess whether to stick with who he knows or freshen things up.

Depending on what happens in The Open and the next few weeks, Donald could be left with some huge decisions to make.