The Debrief: Italian Open

Bernd Wiesberger continued his stunning 2019 European Tour campaign as he claimed the Italian Open title.

The Austrian secured the third victory from his last 13 starts as he also clinched Rolex Series win number two at the Olgiata Golf Club.

Here is everything you need to know from an absorbing week in Italy.

Victorious Wiesberger reigns in Rome

The 34-year-old has had a sensational upturn in form during the second half of the season, capping his third win from just 13 events. Wiesberger was at a nine year low in the Official World Golf Rankings, sitting 389th as recently as May 2019, after missing majority of last season due to wrist surgery but bounced back to claim the Made in Denmark presented by FREJA - his first title in over two years. A maiden Rolex Series crown followed two months later at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open before securing the biggest cheque of his career in Italy. Wiesberger also recorded two top five finishes during those 13 tournaments, which has catapulted him to 36th in the World Rankings and to the summit of the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex - all in the last five months. This victory will have been more remarkable for the Austrian, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday and was playing on an injured leg sustained on Thursday before claiming the title in front of his parents.

Austrians shine in Rolex

Olgiata Golf Club was hosting the Italian Open for the first time in 17 years and its maiden time as a Rolex Series event. However, it was the Austrians who took a liking to the Rome course with two finishing inside the top five. Winner Wiesberger was ably supported by compatriot Mattias Schwab, who has gone from strength to strength in the 2019 campaign as he edges ever closer to a first European Tour title. He finished tied for fourth for the fourth time this season in Italy and the 24-year-old is confident that elusive maiden victory is just around the corne. He said: "I think overall, it was a really good week for me. Especially today was quite a lot of fun. I was hitting it good again. I guess I've come close a few times now. You never know. I hope it will happen eventually."

Fitz goes close again

Matthew Fitzpatrick's agonising wait for a European Tour victory this season went on as the Englishman finished in solo second place for an incredible fourth time in Rome. The Sheffield native has already been runner-up at the Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi, BMW International Open and Scandinavian Invitation before a double bogey at the ninth during his final round ultimately gave Wiesberger the initiative to claim the title. Fitzpatrick will be keen to get back in the winner's circle and continue his fine record of winning every season on the European Tour since earning his card in 2014.

Kurt Kitayama v Robert MacIntyre - rookie edition

There is a superb tussle going on in the battle to become the European Tour's rookie of the season. American Kurt Kitayama has produced a stellar first season and already has two victories to his name, claiming titles at the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open at Anahita and Oman Open. That achievement in itself - in addition to Italian Guido Migliozzi, who also has two wins - would be a shoo-in for the award but Scotland's Robert MacIntyre ensured it will go down to the wire. The Oban native has yet to pick up a title but has has three runner-up finishes at the Betfred British Masters, Made in Denmark presented by FREJA and Porsche European Open, helping him to a lofty seventh place in the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex. And nothing could separate Kitayama and MacIntyre in Italy, finishing third and tied for fourth respectively after carding final rounds of level par. Here is what the 23-year-old Scot said after his third round.

Hatton flushes approach after toilet distraction

It is rare for players to stop their shot during the backswing but Tyrrell Hatton was forced to do just that as a fan slammed a portable toilet door shut during his second round on Friday. The former Italian Open champion turned to the gallery to find the suspect, only to see it was his fiancee Emily who was the culprit.

The Englishman tried to embarrass his partner after the incident, but it did not stop Hatton from dialling in to close range at the fourth for a birdie.