Ryder Cup legend Francesco Molinari has fumed he is "fed up with the idiocy" with speculation surrounding his recent form, after a fan on Twitter suggested the Italian was suffering with 'family problems'.
Molinari announced himself as a hero of European golf in 2018, after playing an integral part in Team Europe's historic Ryder Cup victory over the USA in Paris.
The Italian is back in match play action this week, as he captains Continental Europe against Great Britain and Ireland in the DP World Tour's Hero Cup. Despite announcing himself as one of golf's very best at the end of the 2010's, the Italian has failed to replicate his form following the turn of the decade.
Molinari's hot form saw him become Open champion in 2018, before helping guide Team Europe to a thumping victory over the US two months later.
A year later, the 40-year-old reached a career-high No. 6 in the world rankings after a tie for 16th in the 2019 US Open. Since though, Molinari's form has trended downwards, leaving the Italian outside the world's top 150 golfers in 164th.
Many have speculated as to what has been the reason for the Ryder Cup hero's drastic fall in form. Ahead of his captaincy duties later this week, one Twitter user suggested that perhaps problems at home were behind his form, but Molinari was quick to shut it down.
Taking to Twitter himself, an angered Molinari tweeted: "Could you please tell me what my family problems are, so maybe if I know about them I can solve them. I'm honestly fed up with this idiocy, more or less openly expressed."
Instead the Italian opened up on the reasons behind his drop in form. He added: "Golf is a sport, I've had a decline in recent years because I've made wrong decisions on the course.
Can Francesco Molinari battle his way back into the Ryder Cup fold in 2023? Let us know in the comments section.
"No one is infallible, least of all me who has always made mistakes, even in the best of times. One thing that has never been lacking is commitment and dedication. And I assure you that it is not missing now. Best wishes for a 2023 full of satisfactions to everyone.
2023 poses a fresh start for Molinari, with the 40-year-old no doubt keen to find some form and battle his way back into the conversation ahead of this year's Ryder Cup in his home country of Italy.
His attentions will firmly be on this week's Hero Cup though, with the Continental skipper going up against his key partner in Paris Tommy Fleetwood, who is overseeing the Great Britain and Ireland setup.
