Francesco Molinari ready to make Masters breakthrough

Francesco Molinari does not have a great record at the Masters but he hopes to finally make his mark at Augusta National this year.

The Italian's best performance in his seven previous visits was a tie for 19th place in 2012 and he has missed the cut twice as well as missing out on the tournament altogether in 2015 and 2016.

Molinari tied for 20th last year, when he carded rounds of 72, 74, 70 and 70, which came shortly before he embarked on his spectacular run of form which has seen him win four times since then, including The Open at Carnoustie.

"What let me down in the past here is on and around the greens," said Molinari, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida last month before reaching the semi-finals of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

"It's a very tough test because of the speed and undulations so I hope to show the progress I've made in the last few months and get a good performance in this week.

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"I can see some things now I've improved in the putting that I wasn't doing well in the past that would be costly round here and it's a course most guys need to play a few times to learn a few tricks.

"Hopefully I can use the experience from the last few years this week."

Live from the Masters

Molinari also admitted he is now a much more confident player than in the past following his performances over the last year, including his perfect 5-0 record at the Ryder Cup.

"I'm in a much different position to where I was coming in the last few years," he said. "I don't want to deny that, or I can't deny that. I feel good about my game.

"Confidence comes with success, and I've had a lot of success in the last few months, and I think that the important thing is that I don't have to let my guard down.

"I still have to go through all the work and the process that got me to this point, and hopefully will get me even further forward in my career."