Italian Open (golf)

DS Automobiles Italian Open
Tournament information
Location	Rome, Italy
Established	1925
Course(s)	Marco Simone Golf and Country Club
Par	71
Length	7,268 yards (6,646 m)
Tour(s)	European Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	€3,000,000
Month played	September
Tournament record score
Aggregate	262 Percy Alliss (1935); 262 Francesco Molinari (2016); 262 Thorbjørn Olesen (2018)
To par	−25 Hennie Otto (2008)
Current champion
	Nicolai Højgaard
Location Map
	Marco Simone G&CC Location in ItalyShow map of ItalyShow map of LazioShow all

The DS Automobiles Italian Open (Italian: Open d'Italia) is the men's national open golf championship of Italy. It was founded in 1925 and, except for 1933 and during World War II, was played annually until 1960. After an eleven-year hiatus, it returned in 1971 when it was one of five tournaments in Continental Europe that were included on the British PGA Order of Merit circuit.^[1] The following year of that circuit has since been recognised as the first official season of the European Tour, and the Italian Open is one of few tournaments that have featured on the schedule every year. The 2018 event was the 75th edition of the championship.

In 2017 the European Tour created the Rolex Series, a group of events with higher prize money, with the Italian Open being one of the designated events with total prize money increased to US$7 million, more than double that of the previous year.^[2]^[3] In 2020 the tournament was not part of the Rolex Series, having been rescheduled with much lower prize money due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[4]

History[]

In 2008, Hennie Otto was just one stroke away from the tournament aggregate record of 262, set by Percy Alliss in 1935 on the course at Sanremo, which even by the standards of the day was relatively short, at just 5,200 yards.^[5]

Venues[]

Venue	Location	First	Last	Times
Golf Club Alpino di Stresa	Stresa	1925	1927	3
Circolo Golf Villa d'Este	Montorfano	1928	1972	12
Circolo Golf degli Ulivi, Sanremo	Sanremo	1934	1948	5
Sestrieres Golf Club	Sestriere	1936	1936	1
Circolo del Golf Roma, Acquasanta	Rome	1950	1980	3
Golf Club Milano	Monza	1951	2017	9
Circolo Golf Venezia	Venice	1955	1974	3
Golf Club Varese	Varese	1958	1958	1
Golf Club Garlenda	Garlenda	1971	1971	1
Olgiata Golf Club	Rome	1973	2019	2 (+1)
Golf Club Monticello	Como	1975	1992	7
Circolo Golf Is Molas	Pula, Sardinia	1976	2001	4
Pevero Golf Club	Arzachena, Sardinia	1978	1978	1
Circolo Golf Ugolino	Florence	1983	1983	1
Molinetto Country Club	Milan	1985	1985	1
Golf Club Albarella	Venice	1986	1986	1
Castelconturbia Golf Club	Borgomanero	1991	1998	2
Modena Golf and Country Club	Modena	1993	1993	1
Marco Simone Golf and Country Club	Rome	1994	2021	2
Le Rovedine Golf Club	Milan	1995	1995	1
Golf Club Bergamo "L'Albenza"	Bergamo	1996	1996	1
Gardagolf Country Club	Brescia	1997	2018	3
Circolo Golf Torino "La Mandria"	Turin	1999	2014	3
Golf Club Castello Tolcinasco	Milan	2004	2008	5
Royal Park i Roveri	Turin	2009	2012	4
Chervò Golf Hotel and Spa Resort	Pozzolengo	2020	2020	1

In 1973 the first two rounds were played on two different courses, Acquasanta and Olgiata, everyone playing one round on each course. After the cut, Acquasanta was then used for the final two rounds.

Winners[]

	European Tour (Rolex Series)	2017–2019
	European Tour (Regular)	1972–2016, 2020–
	Pre-European Tour	1925–1971

#	Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue	Ref.
DS Automobiles Italian Open
78th	2021	Nicolai Højgaard	271	−13	1 stroke	Tommy Fleetwood Adrian Meronk	Marco Simone
Italian Open
77th^[a]	2020	Ross McGowan	268	−20	1 stroke	Laurie Canter Nicolas Colsaerts	Chervò
76th	2019	Bernd Wiesberger	268	−16	1 stroke	Matt Fitzpatrick	Olgiata
75th	2018	Thorbjørn Olesen	262	−22	1 stroke	Francesco Molinari	Gardagolf
74th	2017	Tyrrell Hatton	263	−21	1 stroke	Kiradech Aphibarnrat Ross Fisher	Milano
73rd	2016	Francesco Molinari (2)	262	−22	1 stroke	Danny Willett	Milano
Open d'Italia presented by Damiani
72nd	2015	Rikard Karlberg	269	−19	Playoff	Martin Kaymer	Milano
71st	2014	Hennie Otto (2)	268	−20	2 strokes	David Howell	Torino
Open d'Italia Lindt
70th	2013	Julien Quesne	276	−12	1 stroke	David Higgins Steve Webster	Torino
BMW Italian Open
69th	2012	Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (2)	264	−24	2 strokes	Garth Mulroy	Royal Park i Roveri
68th	2011	Robert Rock	267	−21	1 stroke	Gary Boyd Thorbjørn Olesen	Royal Park i Roveri
67th	2010	Fredrik Andersson Hed	268	−16	2 strokes	David Horsey	Royal Park i Roveri
66th	2009	Daniel Vancsik	267	−17	6 strokes	John Daly Raphaël Jacquelin Robert Rock	Royal Park i Roveri
Methorios Capital Italian Open
65th	2008	Hennie Otto	263	−25	1 stroke	Oliver Wilson	Castello Tolcinasco
Telecom Italia Open
64th	2007	Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño	200^[b]	−16	Playoff	Markus Brier	Castello Tolcinasco
63rd	2006	Francesco Molinari	265	−23	4 strokes	Anders Hansen Jarmo Sandelin	Castello Tolcinasco
62nd	2005	Steve Webster	270	−18	3 strokes	Bradley Dredge Richard Finch Anders Hansen	Castello Tolcinasco
61st	2004	Graeme McDowell	197^[b]	−19	Playoff	Thomas Levet	Castello Tolcinasco
Italian Open Telecom Italia
60th	2003	Mathias Grönberg	271	−17	2 strokes	Ricardo González José Manuel Lara Colin Montgomerie	Gardagolf
59th	2002	Ian Poulter (2)	197^[b]	−19	2 strokes	Paul Lawrie	Olgiata
Atlanet Italian Open
58th	2001	Grégory Havret	268	−20	1 stroke	Bradley Dredge	Is Molas
Italian Open
57th	2000	Ian Poulter	267	−21	1 stroke	Gordon Brand Jnr	Is Molas
Fiat and Fila Italian Open
56th	1999	Dean Robertson	271	−17	1 stroke	Pádraig Harrington	Torino
Italian Open
55th	1998	Patrik Sjöland	195^[b]	−21	3 strokes	Joakim Haeggman José María Olazábal	Castelconturbia
Conte of Florence Italian Open
54th	1997	Bernhard Langer (2)	273	−15	1 stroke	José María Olazábal	Gardagolf
53rd	1996	Jim Payne	275	−9	1 stroke	Patrik Sjöland	Bergamo
Italian Open
52nd	1995	Sam Torrance (2)	269	−19	2 strokes	José Rivero	Le Rovedine
Tisettanta Italian Open
51st	1994	Eduardo Romero	272	−16	1 stroke	Greg Turner	Marco Simone
Lancia Martini Italian Open
50th	1993	Greg Turner	267	−21	1 stroke	José Cóceres	Modena
49th	1992	Sandy Lyle (2)	270	−18	1 stroke	Colin Montgomerie	Monticello
48th	1991	Craig Parry	279	−9	1 stroke	Ian Woosnam	Castelconturbia
47th	1990	Richard Boxall	267	−21	5 strokes	José María Olazábal	Milano
Lancia Italian Open
46th	1989	Ronan Rafferty	273	−15	1 stroke	Sam Torrance	Monticello
45th	1988	Greg Norman	270	−18	1 stroke	Craig Parry	Monticello
44th	1987	Sam Torrance	271	−17	Playoff	José Rivero	Monticello
Italian Open
43rd	1986	David Feherty	270	−10	Playoff	Ronan Rafferty	Albarella
42nd	1985	Manuel Piñero	267	−21	1 stroke	Sam Torrance	Molinetto
41st	1984	Sandy Lyle	277	−11	4 strokes	Bobby Clampett	Milano
40th	1983	Bernhard Langer	271	−17	Playoff	Seve Ballesteros Ken Brown	Ugolino
39th	1982	Mark James	280	−8	3 strokes	Bobby Clampett Ian Woosnam	Is Molas
38th	1981	José María Cañizares	280	−8	Playoff	Bobby Clampett	Milano
37th	1980	Massimo Mannelli	276	−8	5 strokes	John Bland Ken Brown	Acquasanta
36th	1979	Brian Barnes	281	−7	Playoff	Dale Hayes	Monticello
35th	1978	Dale Hayes	293	+5	3 strokes	Vin Baker Tommy Horton	Pevero
34th	1977	Ángel Gallardo	286	−2	Playoff	Brian Barnes	Monticello
33rd	1976	Baldovino Dassù	280	−8	8 strokes	Carl Mason Manuel Piñero	Is Molas
32nd	1975	Billy Casper	286	−2	1 stroke	Brian Barnes	Monticello
31st	1974	Peter Oosterhuis	249^[c]	−2	2 strokes	Dale Hayes Johnny Miller	Venezia
30th	1973	Tony Jacklin	284	−4	1 stroke	Valentín Barrios	Acquasanta Olgiata
29th	1972	Norman Wood	271	−1	2 strokes	Brian Huggett	Villa d'Este
28th	1971	Ramón Sota	282	−2	4 strokes	Brian Barnes	Garlenda	^[6]
1961–1970: No tournament
27th	1960		285		2 strokes	Jean Garaïalde	Venezia
26th	1959	Peter Thomson	269		1 stroke	Alfonso Angelini	Villa d'Este
25th	1958	Peter Alliss	282		10 strokes	Alfonso Angelini	Varese
24th	1957	Harold Henning	273		3 strokes		Villa d'Este
23rd	1956	Antonio Cerdá	284		Playoff	Flory Van Donck	Milano
22nd	1955	Flory Van Donck (4)	287		1 stroke	(a)	Venezia
21st	1954	Ugo Grappasonni (2)	272		Playoff^[d]	John Jacobs	Villa d'Este
20th	1953	Flory Van Donck (3)	269		6 strokes	Max Faulkner Dai Rees	Villa d'Este
19th	1952	Eric Brown	273		6 strokes	Alfonso Angelini	Milano
18th	1951	Jimmy Adams	283		1 stroke	Eric Brown	Milano
17th	1950	Ugo Grappasonni	281		Playoff	Alfonso Angelini	Acquasanta
16th	1949	Hassan Hassanein	271			Aldo Casera	Villa d'Este
15th	1948	Aldo Casera	267			Ugo Grappasonni	Golf Sanremo
14th	1947	Flory Van Donck (2)	263			Aldo Casera	Golf Sanremo
1939–1946: No tournament due to World War II
13th	1938	Flory Van Donck	276				Villa d'Este
12th	1937	Marcel Dallemagne	276		Playoff	Auguste Boyer	Golf Sanremo
11th	1936	Henry Cotton	268		6 strokes		Sestrieres
10th	1935	Percy Alliss (2)	262		5 strokes	Auguste Boyer Arthur Havers	Golf Sanremo
9th	1934		132			Gonzales	Golf Sanremo
1933: No tournament
8th	1932	Aubrey Boomer	143			Auguste Boyer	Villa d'Este
7th	1931	Auguste Boyer (4)	141				Villa d'Este
6th	1930	Auguste Boyer (3)	140			Marcel Dallemagne	Villa d'Este
5th	1929		143			Auguste Boyer	Villa d'Este
4th	1928	Auguste Boyer (2)	145		1 stroke		Villa d'Este
3rd	1927	Percy Alliss	145		Playoff	Marcel Dallemagne	Alpino di Stresa
2nd	1926	Auguste Boyer	147			Alec Ross	Alpino di Stresa
1st	1925		154		1 stroke		Alpino di Stresa

^ The 2020 tournament was originally scheduled as a Rolex Series event but was downgraded as a result of rescheduling with a reduced prize fund due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
^ Shortened to 63 holes due to weather.
^ Grappasonni beat Jacobs 137 to 138 in a 36-hole playoff.

Source:^[7]

Multiple winners[]

4 wins
- Auguste Boyer: 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931
- Flory Van Donck: 1938, 1947, 1953, 1955
2 wins
- Percy Alliss: 1927, 1935
- Ugo Grappasonni: 1950, 1954
- Sandy Lyle: 1984, 1992
- Sam Torrance: 1987, 1995
- Bernhard Langer: 1983, 1997
- Ian Poulter: 2000, 2002
- Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño: 2007, 2012
- Hennie Otto: 2008, 2014
- Francesco Molinari: 2006, 2016

References[]

^ "Extra £32,000 at stake for Britons". The Times. 7 December 1971. p. 10. Retrieved 24 February 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
^ "European Tour announces Rolex Series, overhaul of top events". ESPN. Associated Press. 15 November 2016.
^ "European Tour launches the Rolex Series". PGA European Tour. 15 November 2016.
^ "Two Rolex Series events cancelled; three new events on European Tour". Sky Sports. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
^ "Low, Long & Little". Time. 26 July 1937. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
^ "Spaniard holds off British challenge in Italian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 29 March 1971. p. 10.
^ "Roll of Honor". Italian Open.

External links[]

Coverage on the European Tour's official site

Coordinates: 45°24′32″N 10°35′42″E / 45.409°N 10.595°E / 45.409; 10.595

[6] The 2020 tournament was originally scheduled as a Rolex Series event but was downgraded as a result of rescheduling with a reduced prize fund due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[54holes-7] Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

[8] Shortened to 63 holes due to weather.

[10] Grappasonni beat Jacobs 137 to 138 in a 36-hole playoff.

[1] "Extra £32,000 at stake for Britons". The Times. 7 December 1971. p. 10. Retrieved 24 February 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.

[2] "European Tour announces Rolex Series, overhaul of top events". ESPN. Associated Press. 15 November 2016.

[3] "European Tour launches the Rolex Series". PGA European Tour. 15 November 2016.

[4] "Two Rolex Series events cancelled; three new events on European Tour". Sky Sports. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.

[5] "Low, Long & Little". Time. 26 July 1937. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved 2008-11-23.

[gh1971-9] "Spaniard holds off British challenge in Italian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 29 March 1971. p. 10.

[11] "Roll of Honor". Italian Open.

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