DID YOU KNOW – 72° OPEN D’ITALIA PRESENTED BY DAMIANI
• Hennie Otto will be aiming to become the first player since The European Tour’s first year in 1972 to make a successful defence of the Italian Open.
• Hennie Otto also won the tournament in 2008. He is one of six multiple winners since the event became part of The European Tour in 1972.
• The 2013 BMW PGA Champion, Matteo Manassero, will be making his seventh appearance in his National Championship. He played in 2009 as an amateur where he tied for 25th. In 2010, on his professional debut he made European Tour history by becoming the youngest professional to make a cut in a European Tour event, aged 17 years and 18 days. He eventually shared 29th. In 2011 he occupied eighth, 2012 he shared third. In 2013 he finished tied for 42nd and 12 months ago, he had a share of 54th.
• Francesco Molinari was the last home winner of the championship in 2006 and will be looking to continue his outstanding form in the event. He has recorded four top eight finishes in the last eight years. He was the winner in 2006, tied third in 2007, tied sixth in 2009 and tied eight in 2011.
• The Italian Open has a rich tradition of Major Champions who have added their name to the trophy, which began in 1925. They are: Sir Henry Cotton (1936), Peter Thomson (1959), Tony Jacklin (1973), Billy Casper (1975), Bernhard Langer (1983, 97), Sandy Lyle (1984, 92), Greg Norman (1988) and Graeme McDowell (2004).
• Italy’s most famous golfer, Costantino Rocca will be playing in his 30th Italian Open. His best finish was third back in 1991 and tied in 1995.
• The 2015 event has five Major Champions contesting. They are: Darren Clarke, Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer and Y E Yang.
• The Italian Open will be played for the 72nd time in 2015, having started out in 1925. The event is one of only seven tournaments to be played every year since The European Tour’s first year in 1972. The events are: The Open Championship, Open de España, Alstom Open de France, KLM Open, Omega European Masters, PGA Championship and Italian Open.
