Sandelin returns to form

Former Ryder Cup star Jarmo Sandelin believes he is playing the best golf of his career after finishing second in the Italian Open in Milan.

A final-round 65 at Castello di Tolcinasco was not enough to prevent Francesco Molinari deservedly becoming the first home winner of the Italian Open for 26 years.

But Sandelin was delighted with a performance which secures his card for next season after a third top-10 finish of 2006.

The extrovert Swede won five times on the European Tour between 1995 and 2002, and played in the Ryder Cup at Brookline in 1999, but lost his card last season and had to regain it at the qualifying school in November.

“I think this week is the best golf I have ever played,” insisted Sandelin. “My form in 1999 is not even close. I have more control over all the elements of the game now.

“I was on tour for 10 years without a coach, doing my own thing, and I decided I needed to make some major changes.

“I started to work with (renowned coach) Robert Baker 18 months ago and it has produced results. It's been very hard work but if the fruits are this good then it’s worth it.

“I can shoot low numbers like 65 now and still have missed several other good chances. Hopefully this is the start of a new era for me.”

Molinari also carded a brilliant final round of 65 for a 23-under-par total of 265, four shots clear of Sandelin and Denmark’s Anders Hansen.

The 23-year-old Molinari, who claimed the first prize of €235,000, was engulfed by family and friends and drenched in champagne after he holed a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

“It’s amazing, really unbelievable,” said Molinari, who dropped only one shot all week with a three-putt on the fourth hole of his first round. “I would not have thought about winning so early in my career. I was hoping to give the Italian supporters some joy soon but I was not thinking about this year.

“I was quite nervous after I three-putted the 12th for par because I saw Jarmo Sandelin was also 20 under par, but when I saw the next leaderboard on the 16th I was two clear so I knew it was going well for me.

“I want to thank all the people supporting me, it was like playing in a football stadium.”

Molinari’s elder brother, Edoardo, won the US Amateur title last year, and Francesco added: “I think we are equal now.

“I had to win something to catch him. We are 1-1 now and need to score some more goals.”

Molinari was not even born when Italy last enjoyed a home victory in their national open, Massimo Mannelli winning by five shots in Rome in 1980.

He began the day tied for the lead with England’s Benn Barham, but was never in trouble from the moment he eagled the par-five first for the second time this week.