The 75thItalian Open gets underway at Gardagolf Country Club next week and we have taken a look at five things to know ahead of the second Rolex Series event of the year.
The title defence
He is in pole position for a spot on Thomas Bjørn’s European Ryder Cup team and Tyrrell Hatton returns to Italy next week with the aim of being the first man to successfully defend a Rolex Series title. The 26 year old posted four scintillating rounds of 69-64-65-65 to defeat Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ross Fisher by one shot on 21 under par last year and will be looking for much of the same this time around. If Hatton does triumph in Lake Garda, it will not be the first time he has defended a European Tour crown. The Englishman, who is currently in the 12thRace to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex became the first man to successfully defend the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as he held off the charge of Fisher in 2017, who broke the Old Course record on an historic day at St Andrews.
Home heroes
Two men who will be looking forward to teeing it up at Gardagolf more than most are Nino Bertasio and Matteo Manassero. The Italian duo represent the venue as touring professionals and will compete on the course in a professional event for the first time. The club is located in the picturesque Lake Garda region of Italy. It is one of northern Italy’s most prestigious courses and has produced some memorable golfing moments, with the venue last hosting the national Open in 2003 when Sweden’s Mathias Grönberg claimed a two-stroke victory.
Holing history
BMW PGA Champion Francesco Molinari enters his home Open in top form this week, and will look to add a second consecutive Rolex Series win to go with his incredible record at this event. After claiming victory two years ago, Molinari became the first native son to win the Italian Open twice following his first triumph ten years previous, in 2006. In addition to his two victories, Molinari, whose brother Edoardo will also tee it up at Gardagolf, has four further top ten finishes to his name.
Wonderful winners
The event at Gardagolf will be the 75thedition of the Italian Open, a tournament boasting some of golf’s biggest names as former winners. Two-time Masters Tournament winner Bernhard Langer triumphed twice at the Italian Open – in 1983 and 1997 – whilst European Ryder Cup winning captain Sam Torrance also reigned supreme on two occasions, in 1987 and 1995. The last time the Italian Open was hosted by Gardagolf, Swede Mathias Grönberg won by two shots over Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez for his most recent European Tour victory.
Challenge Tour kingpin
Adding to the strong home contingent in Lake Garda will be Road to Ras Al Khaimah Number One Lorenzo Gagli. The Italian won the Barclays Kenya Open, the season-opening European Challenge Tour event in March. The 28 year old defeated Jens Fahrbring on the third extra hole to race to the top of the Road to Ras Al Khaimah rankings, a standing which has only been reinforced in the ensuing tournaments. He finished tied second in the Turkish Airlines Challenge before back-to-back tied 20thfinishes followed in the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open and the Belgian Knockout.
