If there's one horse suited to this particular course, then it has to be Francesco Molinari.

The 30-year-old is the highest-ranked player competing in this week's Johnnie Walker Championship and, if you're looking for a flutter, then you could do a lot worse than picking this Italian thoroughbred to be first past the post.

Happy holidays at Gleneagles during his teenage years, as well as many happy returns during his professional career, have ensured that this neck of the woods will remain a golfing home from home for Molinari.

It was in the Johnnie Walker Championship of 2005 that he chalked up his first top-10 finish on the European Tour, by claiming a share of sixth. He tied for ninth two years later, shared third behind his title-winning brother Edoardo in 2010 and secured another equal sixth last year.

"I've got good memories and I always enjoy coming back here," said the world No.42, whose impressive record on Scottish soil also includes a second in last year's Scottish Open and a share of ninth in July's Open at Muirfield.

"We came a couple of times with the family on holiday, on a great trip all over Scotland. I was maybe 15, Edoardo was 17. We had a lot of fun on the King's course and then on the second day we played the Centenary course. Obviously we didn't know then that we would have success on the same course as professionals, so thinking back, it was quite a special week. It feels almost like home."

Back in Italy, the global exploits of the golfing Molinaris will always play second fiddle to the great god of football. They've tried their best to kick "calcio" off the back pages, of course. Between them, the Turin siblings have amassed five European Tour titles, three Ryder Cup appearances and a World Cup win.

"We've had our recognition but we can easily walk down the streets without being recognised," said Molinari.

"In football, that would be like a player from the second division," he added with a smile.