Italy’s Edoardo Molinari knows the path to Scottish Open success having triumphed at Loch Lomond six years ago, but reckons the links course environment at Castle Stuart this week will pose a stern test.
Molinari won the competition in its final year at the Dunbartonshire venue, finishing three shots ahead of nearest challenger Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland.
It proved a successful 2010 for Molinari, who went on to help Europe win the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor later that year.
Although Molinari has fond memories of Loch Lomond, he reckons the decision to shift the competition to links venues is the correct one, and the 35-year-old said: “It would be fantastic to do it again. I enjoyed Loch Lomond a lot, but I think it’s probably better to play the Scottish Open on links courses like we have done the last few years.
“This is a very good course, and hopefully the wind will blow and it will be a difficult test.”
Of Molinari’s 14 European Tour events in 2016, his 12th-place finish at the Mauritius Open in May is the only occasion in which he has broken into the top-40.
He added: “In the the last few weeks I’ve been starting to play a lot better golf. I’m finally starting to get a bit more confidence off the tee and that’s the key.
“I need to keep the ball in play and score from there. I’m starting to play better, so you never know, it just takes one good week to turn around the whole year.
“Hopefully I can have a good week and qualify for the Open championship.”