Like the Irish Open, played from September 24 to 27, the Italian Open 2020 has lost its Rolex Series stripes.
Degraded by the fault of a global pandemic, one of the oldest golf tournaments in continental Europe (created in 1925), present in the European Tour calendar since 1972, has thus seen its endowment of $ 7 million. to 1 million euros.
A sudden stop, for a country which must nevertheless host the prestigious Ryder Cup in 2023.
While waiting for better days, we do so with the means at hand.
Exit the Olgiata Golf Club in Rome, which received the 2019 edition where the Austrian Bernd Wiesberger had won ahead of the Englishman Matthew Fiztpatrick, and place a new kid, the Chervo Golf Club in Brescia, very close to the Lake Garda.
A par 72 of 6,797 meters out of the ground in 2008 ...
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For this 77th edition, the field brings together some serious headliners such as the defending champion, Bernd Wiesberger, but also the English Lee Westwood and Matt Wallace, second last weekend at the Scottish Championship.
All are residents of the world top 50 as is Victor Perez.
The Tarbais, splendid second less than a fortnight ago at Wentworth behind Tyrrell Hatton, made the trip to Italy after a mini-break.
A year ago, he took 57th place overall.
This year, the current 37th player in the world is obviously a favorite.
It will be to follow closely, especially as the French have, in the recent past, shone in this Italian Open.
Julien Quesne, for example, won in 2013 near Turin, just like Grégory Havret, in 2001, in Sardinia this time.
Like Perez, the French clan will also be well represented since there are thirteen in total to take the start.
If Alexander Levy (16th in Scotland) allows himself a few days of rest before returning to Cyprus, the next stage of a 2020 calendar patched up as best they can, let's mention the presence of the insatiable Joël Stalter (fifth consecutive week on the Tour ), Robin Roussel and Antoine Rozner, back after three weeks of absence, or Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, who has not appeared since a missed cut at the Portugal Masters on September 11.
Note that Julien Quesne, now a member of the Challenge Tour, benefits from an invitation this week as a former winner of the tournament.
Italian Open (European Tour) - 1,000,000 euros in prize money
Players to watch
Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Martin Kaymer (All), Lee Westwood (Ang), Matt Wallace (Ang), Joost Luiten (PB), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Adrian Otaegui (Esp), Marc Warren (Eco), Matteo Manassero (Ita), Jamie Donaldson (PdG), Matthias Schwab (Aut), Jason Scrivener (Aus), Joachim B. Hansen (Dan), Jordan Smith (Eng), Chris Paisley (Eng), David Horsey (Eng), Dean Burmester (AfS), Maverick Antcliff (Aus), Marcus Armitage (Ang), Laurie Canter (Ang), Jonathan Caldwell (IdN), Dave Coupland (Ang), SSP Chawrasia (Ind), Bryce Easton (AfS), Kristoffer Reitan (Nor ), Hurly Long (All).
The French engaged
Victor Perez, Joël Stalter, Raphaël Jacquelin, Julien Quesne, Robin Roussel, Antoine Rozner, Adrien Saddier, Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Clément Sordet, Romain Wattel, Damien Perrier, Mathieu Fenasse.
To follow the Italian Open (European Tour) on television:
Thursday 22 October, 1st round: 12:30 p.m. (Golf +)
Friday 23 October, 2nd round: 12:30 p.m. (Golf +)
Saturday 24 October, 3rd round: 1:00 p.m. (Golf +)
Sunday October 25, 4th round: 11:30 am (Golf +)