Adrien Saddier is relishing his return to Europe as he makes his first defence of a DP World Tour title at the DS Automobiles 83° Open d'Italia after embracing a new reality in 2026 as a dual member on the PGA TOUR.
The Frenchman earned a long-awaited breakthrough title in his 200th start on golf's Global Tour 12 months ago at Italy's national open.
Already with three top tens to his name by then, the confidence the win brought him saw Saddier come close to a second win of the campaign as he lost out to Alex Noren in a play-off at the BMW PGA Championship in the Rolex Series.
Those performances proved instrumental in him finishing a career-best ninth on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, to finish as the fourth of ten players to play their way onto the PGA TOUR.
After a top-20 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player towards the end of last year, Saddier has since played entirely on the PGA TOUR outside of starts at the US PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
The 34-year-old may have missed the cut last week at Shinnecock Hills, but he reflected on his momentous triumph at Argentario Golf Club 12 months ago with great satisfaction about the "bonus" of being able to further his career by playing stateside.
"It's quite exciting, to be honest, to be here," said the Frenchman, whose victory in Italy earned him his Major Championship debut at The Open last summer
"First time defending. I put this event in my schedule at the beginning of the year, and I'm looking forward to a good week.
"This victory was career-changing. I felt my shoulders were softer than before, there was less to carry. I just brought this confidence with me for the second part of the season, and I had some good results to qualify for the PGA TOUR.
"It’s different, not easy, for sure. I am struggling again to have some good results but being at the Majors is a nice experience.
"The players are stronger, the courses are tougher so it’s just great to play golf there and enjoy it. It’s pretty nice for me to know where I can improve my game. It’s just a bonus for me."
Across 13 starts this year, Saddier has a season's best of a tie for 39th at the Texas Children's Houston Open.
Openly ackowledging he has found the step-up to the PGA TOUR as a stern challenge, he is now set for the first of three starts back in his home continent.
After Italy's national open, he is set to play at the Genesis Scottish Open - co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR - before competing in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Armed with 13 years of experience as a professional, Saddier is feeling positive about the upcoming summer stint and beyond that the rest of the year.
"The leaderboard is more packed," he said of his learnings from life playing staetside.
"Every shot matters more. Two shots better and you can be top ten and two shots worse you can be top 50 almost.
"You have to just grind every day until the last shot on Sunday. You just have to make your game stronger.
"[Now] it’s nice for a month to be in Europe, back with my family on my side, enjoying seeing the French guys.
"I played with one of my best mates David Ravetto this afternoon so it’s just nice to feel more comfortable with the players, knowing them, having my family this week and for the British [The Open].
"It’s just great to be back in Europe."
Saddier is one of 22 players in this week's field who was in action when Circolo Golf Torino last held Italy's national Open in 2024.
Back then, he was in his rookie season on the DP World Tour and perhaps understandably memories of that appearance more than a decade have faded with the biggest course alteration seeing the 12th play as a par four, rather than a par five, this year.
"It was a long time ago," he said.
"I remember a few holes but not all 18. I don’t think it’s looking different.
"It’s a great track, I played the back nine and your in the woods so you have to be precise with your driving to give you an opportunity. I enjoy playing here."
