Tommy Fleetwood backing Francesco Molinari to regain 'best player on the planet' form

Tommy Fleetwood is backing his record-breaking Ryder Cup partner Francesco Molinari to regain the form that made him "the best golfer on the planet" in 2018.

Molinari's performances have dipped alarmingly since the Masters last year, when he held the lead for much of the tournament until struggling over the final seven holes in the final round, finding water at both the 12th and 15th to open the door for Tiger Woods.

The Italian, was imperious in 2018 as he won three titles, including The Open at Carnoustie, and he went on to become the first European to win all five of his matches at the Ryder Cup in France.

But the 37-year-old has not managed a top-10 finish since his Masters disappointment and has played only four times this year, missing the cut in his first three starts and languishing in a tie for 53rd at the WGC-Mexico Championship in February.

Molinari has not played any competitive golf since the coronavirus shutdown and has relocated to California from London, but he assured his fans earlier this month he was working hard on his game and Fleetwood has no doubts his close friend will be back among golf's elite players.

"I think he'll be looking forward to coming back," said Fleetwood ahead of this week's Scottish Open. "They have done that move now, and he can start progressing to where he wants to play again and stuff.

"I think everybody will be happy to see him, but I think he's just taking care of things that he knew he wanted to do and the family wanted to do, and then he'll be back very soon, I'm guessing.

"In golf, as in life, you go through great spells, and for six, seven months, he was the best golfer on the planet pretty much, not far off. I think everyone had expectations, and they're huge for somebody like that when he's playing like that. ฟันธงบอล