As an amateur, Francesco won the Italian Amateur Stroke Play Championship twice, and the Italian Match Play Championship in 2004. He turned professional later that year, and finished 86th in the Order of Merit in his first season. He captured his first European Tour victory in 2007, becoming the first Italian to win on Tour in 27 years, and climbed to a career-high 14th on the world golf rankings after winning the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in 2010. Francesco picked up another win in 2012, the Reale Seguros Open de Espana on the European Tour.