Thorbjorn Olesen wins Italian Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 3 June 2018

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen fired a fine closing round of 64 to win the 75th Italian Open at Gardagolf CC by a single shot from home favourite Francesco Molinari.

Thorbjorn Olesen wins Italian Open

Thorbjorn Olesen played a bogey-free final round at Gardagolf CC to finish one clear of Italy’s Francesco Molinari and pick up the fifth European tour victory of his career. Olesen carded a superb 64 to emerge from the bunch and take the win.

Home favourite and tournament host Francesco Molinari was going for a second straight win following his victory in the BMW PGA Championship last week. He made a great run at claiming a third Italian Open title, coming up one shy.

Olesen came to the 72nd hole with a two-shot lead but his drive to the last ended well left of the fairway. The Dane had to wait for Molinari ahead on the green before he could play his tough second shot. He looked on as the Italian holed a monster birdie putt, eliciting a huge roar from the home fans.

Molinari’s closing birdie put the pressure on Olesen and that was ramped up even further when the Dane missed the green in the right- hand bunker. He blasted out from there, but his ball rolled some eight feet past the cup. Putting for par and a one-shot win, Olesen confidently stroked the ball home.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I’ve never had a putt to win on the 18th green like that before and I was pleased to take the opportunity. Francesco made it hard for me and I’m glad to get the victory.”

Lee Slattery finished the tournament alone in third place with Rafa Cabrera-Bello enjoying another good week in fourth. Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Andy Sullivan were tied for fifth.

As the second event in the Rolex Series, Ryder Cup points count 1.5 times from this tournament meaning that Olesen, having been well outside contention, has now moved into a position where he will have a realistic chance of making the European side.

Italian Open Gardagolf CC, Brescia, Italy 31 May – 3 Jun Purse: €5,800,000 Par: 71

1 Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 65 68 65 64 262 2 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 66 66 66 65 263 3 Lee Slattery (Eng) 66 69 62 67 264 4 Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 67 68 66 266 T5 Lee Westwood (Eng) 66 70 68 63 267 T5 Graeme McDowell (NIR) 66 66 71 64 267 T5 Andy Sullivan (Eng) 67 68 65 67 267 T8 Callum Shinkwin (Eng) 66 71 67 64 268 T8 Ryan Fox (NZL) 69 68 67 64 268 T8 Ian Poulter (Eng) 67 68 66 67 268 T8 Jordan Smith (Eng) 67 68 65 68 268 T8 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 68 63 68 69 268 T8 Danny Willett (Eng) 65 67 67 69 268

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus 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 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?