Robert Rock wins BMW Italian Open

England’s Robert Rock claimed his first European Tour title in the BMW Italian Open at Royal Park I Roveri in Turin. He finished one shot clear of Thorbjorn Oleson of Denmark.

Robert Rock
Fergus Bisset
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England's Robert Rock claimed his first European Tour title in the BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi at Royal Park I Roveri in Turin. He finished one shot clear of Thorbjorn Oleson of Denmark.

Rock began the final round two in front but he was quickly absorbed into the chasing pack as a number of players made fast starts.

The most notable early pace-setter was Thorbjorn Oleson of Denmark. The 21-year-old blistered to the turn in just 29 strokes to move to 17-under-par. Although his run was slowed by a bogey at the par-5 11th, the young Dane returned four more birdies in the last seven holes to post a superb 62 and a clubhouse total of 20-under-par.

Rock faltered in the early part of his round but got on a roll with four birdies in a row from the 5th. The 34-year-old posted three more birdies between the 10th and the 13th to move one clear of Oleson on 21-under-par. He maintained that slender advantage to the end, closing with five straight pars.

The most impressive of those pars came at the 17th when his drive ended in the trees. His second shot narrowly escaped the woods and his third left him a 20-foot putt to save par. He duly knocked it in and so maintained his one shot cushion coming into the par-5 last. He played the final hole in regulation and left himself a six-inch tap-in for his maiden European Tour title.

Another Englishman, Gary Boyd, finished strongly with a 66 to join Oleson in a tie for second place. Scotland's Peter Whiteford was another stroke back in fourth place.

BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi Royal Park I Roveri, Turin, Italy June 9-12, purse €1,500,000, par 72

1   Robert Rock (Eng)   64   68   68   67   267   €250,000 T2   Thorbjorn Oleson (Den) 65   71   70   62   268   €130,280 T2   Gary Boyd (Eng)      69   65   68   66   268   €130,280 4   Peter Whiteford (Sco)   68   67   68   66   269   €75,000 5   Joost Luiten (Ned)   66   67   69   68   270   €63,600 T6   Michael Jonzon (Swe)   69   68   69   65   271   €48,750 T6   Niclas Fasth (Swe)   69   69   64   69   271   €48,750 T8   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   66   68   70   68   272   €33,700 T8   Francesco Molinari (Ita)   66   68   68   70   272   €33,700 T8   Jbe Kruger (RSA)      69   66   67   70   272   €33,700

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only Where next? Harrington: Opens Sarazen bunker Opinion: Thoughts from Bill Elliott, Fergus Bisset and more

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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