Special week for Italian golf
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2010 Italian Open | Preview | 05 May 2010
Edoardo Molinari has a great opportunity to join his brother Francesco as a winner of his own national open when he tees it up this week at the BMW Italian Open at Royal Park Golf and country Club in Turin.
At world #36, Molinari, is playing the event as the leading world ranked player in the field. With a solid week in Sevilla last week when 17th and more importantly a runner up finish to Ernie Els at the Arnold Palmer Championship then he should be the favourite both in the eyes of the locals and on paper.
Moilnari’s brother, Francesco, is playing in the Players Championship which Edoardo was also eligible to play but has clearly opted to try and achieve one of the goals of all golfers, their own national open title. Francesco won the tournament in 2006.
Italy has cause for even greater interest in this week’s event as the 17 year old Matteo Manassero has chosen this week to make his professional debut and in the process becomes the second youngest player to become a member of the European Tour.
Manassero has joined as an affiliate European Tour member after an amateur career that saw him as the leading amateur when a remarkable 13th in last year’s Open Championship at Turnberry and as the leading amateur when 36th at the Masters Championship in 2010.
Welshman Rhys Davies has been in great form in recent weeks. A star on the Challenge Tour in 2009, Davies has quickly established himself on the European Tour with a win at the recent Hassan Trophy and several other good finishes. The 24 year old appears as if he could well develop into a major star in European golf before too long.
Oliver Fisher surprisingly missed the cut at last week’s Spanish Open but he has been burning the candle at both ends of late both in terms of travel and being in contention in nearly every week prior. The weekend off might work in his favour and do not be surprised to find him bounce back quickly.
Raphael Jacquelin had a good week last week when 3rd in Spain and finished runner up at this venue last year. That points to the possibility of him doing well again.
South African Thomas Aiken was playing well before last week’s missed cut in Spain and finished 5th last year at this venue. Aiken has yet to win on the European Tour but it will happen at some stage soon.
Marcus Fraser makes his first appearance since his impressive win in Korea, his first European Tour win in early seven years. It is always difficult to follow up after such a significant breakthrough but he will win more in Europe.
Other Australasians in the field include Richard Green, Andrew Dodt, Brett Rumford, Peter O’Malley, Rick Kulacz, Scott Hend and Andrew Tampion are also in the field.
