This week, the European Tour returns to Italy for the 73rd edition of the prestigious Italian Open, a tournament which has been a mainstay on the schedule since the Tour’s first season in 1972…
Rewind
Last year, Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg won his maiden European Tour title after a play-off against former World Number One Martin Kaymer at Golf Club Milano.
Kaymer had led by three shots but Karlberg fired a final round 67 to force a play-off in dramatic circumstances.
In sudden death, both players parred the first play-off hole but at the second attempt, Karlberg made birdie to win his first title against what was a star-studded field.
Sitting in 25th place on the Race to Dubai, Karlberg will be hoping to move further up the Rankings this week as he returns to Milan as defending champion.
With three top-ten finishes under his belt in 2016, including a second-place finish at the BMW PGA Championship, there is nothing to suggest Karlberg cannot add to his trophy cabinet this weekend.
The field
Defending champion Karlberg is joined by a star-studded field at Golf Club Milano, which includes 2016 Masters Tournament Champion Danny Willett and two of Darren Clarke’s wildcard picks for The Ryder Cup, which starts in just over two weeks, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood.
The European Ryder Cup theme is continued with Matthew Fitzpatrick, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood all making their final preparations for golf’s greatest team event, which tees off on Friday, September 30.
Former Major champions Padraig Harrington and YE Yang and 2015 European Tour Rookie of the Year Byeong Hun An will also tee it up on Thursday.
As well as Karlberg, eight more former winners of the Italian Open are in the field, including home favourite and former Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari.
The course
Designed by James Peter Gannon and opened in 1928, Golf Club Milano sits next to the famous Monza racetrack. The course was later renovated by Silvio Grappasoni. There are three nine-hole courses onsite with this year’s tournament being played across the Red and Yellow courses.
This is the eighth time the Italian Open will be held on the course after its return last year following a 24-year absence.
Did you know?
• Rikard Karlberg 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.
• Should Karlberg prevail for the second consecutive season be would become the seventh multiple winner since the event became part of the European Tour.
• The 2013 BMW PGA Champion, Matteo Manassero, will be making his eighth 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 and in 2012 he shared third.
• 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 his last nine appearances. He was the winner in 2006, tied third in 2007, tied sixth in 2009 and tied eighth in 2011.
• The Italian Open has a rich tradition of Major Champions who have also 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).
• The Italian Open will be played for the 73rd time in 2016. The event is one of only seven tournaments to be played every year since the European Tour’s first year. The other events are: The Open Championship, Open de España, Open de France, KLM Open, Omega European Masters and the PGA Championship.
• The prize fund of €3 million is the largest in the history of the Italian Open.
