The DP World Tour visits a new first-time venue this week at the Italian Open presented by Regione Emilia-Romagna, the penultimate event on the European Swing. Here are your five things to know.
New venue
After a three-year stay at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, host venue of the 2023 Ryder Cup, Italy’s national Open is this year being staged at the Adriatic Golf Club in Cervia.
It is the first time in 31 years the event has been played in the region of Emilia-Romagna, after New Zealand’s Greg Turner claimed the title at Modena Golf & Country Club in 1993.
The Adriatic Golf Club features three sets of nine holes, with the tournament being played across the Yellow Course (holes 1-9) and the Red Course (holes 10-18), making for a 6,965-yard par 70 examination.
Over the last nine months, there has been a total reconstruction of all the bunkers on the course and they have been rebuilt and reshaped to a high specification.
With the rough set to be at a height of approximately 80mm, and fairways at least narrowed by a couple of yards either side, accuracy off the tee will be imperative to aid players to find the small greens.
There are also alterations to tee boxes at the par-three sixth, par-four ninth and par-three 14th, while the plan is to move the tee forward at the par-four 18th over the weekend to make it play around 300 yards and thereby driveable for all the field.
History of the event
Italy’s national Open was founded in 1925 and last year celebrated its 80th anniversary.
It was one of the DP World Tour’s founding events in 1972 and has been an ever-present since, while it also formed part of the Rolex Series for three years from 2017.
The trophy has previously been lifted by some of golf's greatest names including Peter Thomson, Tony Jacklin, Billy Casper, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance.
The last three editions have been won by Nicolai Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre and Adrian Meronk respectively.
It will not be the only major international sporting event in the region, with the Tour de France - starting in Italy for the first time – passing the venue during its second stage on Sunday.
Olympics duo lead home contingent
Francesco Molinari was the last Italian to win his home event when he became a two-time champion at Golf Club Milano in 2016.
While the Major champion is not in the field this week, there will be hopes within Italy they can celebrate a homegrown winner this week.
Matteo Manassero and Guido Migliozzi, who have qualified to represent Italy at this summer’s Olympic Games and both won on the DP World Tour this season, will shoulder much of the expectation, but they are not alone.
Edoardo Molinari, a fellow multiple DP World Tour winner and Team Europe Ryder Cup Vice Captain, is also teeing it up alongside Renato Paratore and Andrea Pavan as 20 home hopes target a memorable success.
Inside the field
The penultimate event of the European Swing has attracted another strong international field.
Danny Willett, an eight-time winner on the DP World Tour, is joined by fellow Masters champions Patrick Reed and Angel Cabrera, who won earlier this month on the Legends Tour.
A host of winners on the DP World Tour so far this season are also in town, including Laurie Canter, Yuto Katsuragawa and Jesper Svensson.
Bernd Wiesberger, who finished in a tie for second earlier this month at the European Open in Germany, leads the cast of past champions in action.
Tommaso Perrino, a winner on the Golf for the Disabled Tour who was involved in the All-Star match at the Ryder Cup, is set for his third appearance at his national Open and first since 2021.
Spots at The Open on offer
We’re now under a month away from the final Major Championship of the season, The 152nd Open at Royal Troon.
Just as was the case at last week’s KLM Open, the Italian Open offers places into the championship through the Open Qualifying Series.
Two places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut are on offer, with Guido Migliozzi and Joe Dean having secured their spot at golf’s original championship via this route in the Netherlands last time out on the DP World Tour.
After this week, many players will try their luck at Final Qualifying on July 2 across four venues, before the Genesis Scottish Open offers one final opening, with three places up for grabs.
