By Phil Casey, Press Association Stephen Gallacher is the only player who controls his Ryder Cup destiny, but it was Francesco Molinari who did most to boost his chances of making the European team in the Italian Open. On the course where he started playing golf aged eight, Molinari carded a flawless six-under-par 66 at Circolo Golf Torino to share the lead with Austria's Bernd Wiesberger. And that meant Gallacher, who needs to finish in the top two to overtake Graeme McDowell and claim the final automatic qualifying place, found himself six shots off the pace following an erratic opening 72.
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Francesco Molinari playing himself into Ryder cup contention at Italian Open
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European captain Paul McGinley said Molinari was 'very much' in contention
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Stephen Gallacher can still grab automatic qualification
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Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter are other wildcard options
McGinley said that even if nothing significant happened this week that he had not settled upon his three wild cards, with five players - thought to be Gallacher, @placeholder, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood - the favourites.