Francesco Molinari delighted the huge galleries at the Italian Open with an eagle-birdie start to open up a two-shot lead early in the final round at Golf Club Milano.
Torrential rain and thunderstorms had plagued days one and two in Monza but beautiful conditions brought the crowds flocking over the weekend and they were not being disappointed by their local hero.
Molinari claimed his maiden European Tour title at this event in 2006 and there has not been an Italian winner since, although the former Ryder Cup star made a great start in his attempt to change that.
The three shots picked up in his first three holes moved him to 19 under and gave him a two-shot lead over England's Danny Willett.
Frenchman Alexander Levy was then at 16 under alongside Englishman Chris Paisley.
Molinari had picked up three shots in eight holes as he finished his third round in the morning - including a stunning holed bunker shot on the last - and he picked up where he left off.
The 33 year old put his approach on the first to 15 feet and holed a curling right-to lefter for an eagle and a two-shot lead.
Willett responded with a birdie on the second but Molinari followed him in from five feet and sent the home crowd into raptures once more.
Levy made his first birdie of the day from 15 feet on the next and Molinari did very well to get up and down for par after putting his tee-shot over the back of the green.
Paisley was alongside Levy after a birdie on the first, two shots clear of Richard Bland - who parred his first three holes - and Alejandro Cañizares who had a single birdie through four.
Tommy Fleetwood was making the big move with five birdies in his first 13 holes to sit at 13 under alongside Nacho Elvira and Robert Karlsson.
Ryder Cup duo Rafa Cabrera Bello and Matthew Fitzpatrick were then seven shots off the lead.
