Locals favourites at BMW Italian Open
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2011 BMW Italian Open | Preview | 08 Jun 2011
The week prior to a major championship is seldom ideal for tournament organisers, especially those trying to attract the best field possible to their event, but this week’s BMW Italian Open is blessed with the presence of not only Italy’s two best players but two of the most significant players in European golf.
The stocks of Italian golf are high at present with Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero leading the way. Both will play Congressional next week but before they do both are in Turin to secure the title most golfers cherish almost as much as a major championship.
Molinari has already achieved that milestone, winning the event in 2006 but for the rising star of European golf, Manassero, this week provides a great opportunity to get his name on his own national trophy. It will undoubtedly happen one day and if it was this week then few would be surprised.
Manassero’s recent form has been good. He won in Malaysia two months ago and then two weeks ago finished 7th at the BMW PGA Championship. Only 18 years of age and a professional for just 14 months, he has taken the world by storm, winning twice in that time and finishing runner up on one other occasion in European Tour events. He is already number 30 in the world.
Molinari has not played quite as well in recent weeks as he was earlier in the season and late in 2010 when he won the HSBC Champions event in China but he is still a genuine chance to repeat his four shot 2006 victory. When he won that year it was the first time an Italian had won the event in 26 years but there is very little chance of the locals having to wait so long again.
The event is being played the Royal Park Golf and country Club in Turin, a Robert Trent Jones designed golf course. It was first used for this event last year when Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson-Hed defeated England’s David Horsey by two shots.
Andersson-Hed’s form of late has not been at the same level it was prior to his win last year but fond memories often serve to inspire.
David Horsey could be the one to bother the favourites. Since his runner-up finish last year he has continued to do well and his recent win in Morocco, his 5th place in Spain and equally impressive 7th place finish at Wentworth have him poised to do even better than he did last year.
Australasians in the event are Marcus Fraser, Scott Strange, Peter O’Malley, Brett Rumford, Daniel Gaunt, Mark Brown, Wade Ormsby, Matthew Zions, Rick Kulacz and recent Challenge Tour winner Andrew Tampion.
Fraser’s recent 4th place finish at the BMW PGA Championship and his 17th place finish in the event last year suggest that he might be a good chance to not only lead the Australasians but potentially contend.
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