Major champions, Italians at the top, a field of great occasions: it is the 81st Italian Open which takes place from 27 to 30 June at the Adriatic Golf Club in Cervia. Particularly awaited are the American Patrick Reed and the Englishman Danny Willett who boast victory at the Augusta Masters in their careers. An American hasn’t won the Italian Open since 1975 when Billy Casper won, the first and last overseas player to put his name on the roll of honor. “It’s the first time I’ve played in Italy – explained Reed – and I have to say that I’m really excited by the idea. It’s a fantastic country, I like it a lot. It would be nice to become the second American to conquer this competition”.
improvements and manpower
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Twenty Italian players will be on the pitch, led by Guido Migliozzi and Matteo Manassero who both boast success on the European tour this year.
Manassero’s return is an important one: “I’m having a great season, new for me, lived in a more mature and conscious way. I’m very satisfied with the results achieved so far, after four years I’m back playing the Italian Open and I’m very happy about it. The goal, like every week, is to give my best. As for the Olympics, for me it will be the second time after my debut in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. With Guido Migliozzi we make up a beautiful, united team. I’m happy to share this experience with him. Paris represents a great achievement, which we will have to prove we deserve with the best possible result. We will try to be competitive”. And Migliozzi explained: “I’m proud to have brought home the victory in Holland, now I’m here in Emilia-Romagna and winning the Italian Open would be really nice. What I can say is that I will give my best, it’s always nice to play in front of the home crowd and your family”. Then on the Olympics: “The top of world golf will be there and the goal will be to bring the tricolor as high as possible. I would like to meet Jannik Sinner, an incredible champion, it would be fantastic to compare and exchange opinions with him. I admire him a lot. The Olympics are an exclamation point in my career”.
super prize pool
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There will be 156 competitors (20 Italians) on the starting tee who will compete for a prize pool of 3,250,000 dollars, the second highest (excluding Majors) since the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January. In the first two rounds Patrick Reed and Guido Migliozzi will be in trio with Laurie Canter (starts at 13.10, 8.10). Danny Willett and Matteo Manassero will also play together with Zander Lombard (8.10, 13.10), while Edoardo Molinari will have as partners the Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin and the Englishman Jordan Smith (8.20, 13.20).
