The 77th edition of the Chervò Golf Club San Vigilio di Pozzolengo (Brescia) opens today Open of Italy, an important edition because it faces the Covid emergency with courage and confidence, while the infections are rising impressively in Lombardy.
Unfortunately the pandemic has curbed the desire to participate of many champions, starting from Francesco Molinari, but there are 17 Italians and many top players from all over the world who will be fighting for the title between now and Sunday. Among the blues we note the presence of Renato Paratore, Guido Migliozzi, Nino Bertasio, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Laporta, Lorenzo Gagli, Lorenzo Scalise, all busy on the European Tour. There is also a lot of anticipation for the return of Matteo manassero who, after being one of the best teenagers in the world and having won 4 tournaments on the European tour, fell into a crisis and disappeared into one of golf's mysterious abysses. Not long ago, the young Veronese, who at 27 could have a successful life ahead of him, finally lifted a cup (after 7 years of fasting), establishing himself in the Toscana Alps Open, a tournament on the Alps Tour circuit and the Italian Pro Tour.
Among the expected stars we can mention the Englishman Lee westwood, 47 years old, already number one in the world, and the German Martin kaymer, 35 years old, with some majors in his palmares. The 35-year-old Viennese defends the title Bernd Wiesberger, which defeated the competition last year at the Olgiata in Rome. There are 4 other past winners present in this edition: the Danish Thorbjorn Olesen, champion in 2018, the Swede Karlberg, scored in 2015, the French Julien Quesne, winner in 2013, the Spaniard Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, author of a brace (2007-2012).
They participate in the tournament 114 competitors and then 36 beech the cut will leave the first 65 classified in the race and any tied in 65th place. The winner will receive 160.650 euros for a total prize money of 1 million euros.
Although it is a minor-key tournament, it will boast super television coverage on Sky Sport and Rai Sport.
In these days, the Italian Golf Federation has also communicated the official dates of the Ryder Cup in Rome, postponed to 2023 due to the pandemic. The Europe-USA challenge will be played in three years' time at the Marco Simone from Friday 29 September and Sunday XNUMX October.
This weekend in the US he's back on the field too Tiger Woods and of course he does it to write history, even if his recent state of form does not bode well. The champion tries to defend the title won last year in the ZOZO Championship @ Sherwood (October 22-25) and in case of success Tiger reaches 83 victories on the Pga Tour, conquering the record that he shares today with Sam Snead, unforgettable glory of the past. The ZOZO has moved from Japan to the United States due to the pandemic and sees the presence of 78 competitors competing for a huge prize pool of eight million dollars. Lined up in the front row is a large part of the Serie A of this sport, starting with the Spanish Jon Rahm, which it will try to snatch at Dustin Johnson the title of number one in the world, taking advantage of the fact that the American is stopped due to coronavirus positivity. In the field are eight of the top ten in the World rankings, including Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Roy McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed. Missing Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, still recovering from the after-effects of a knee problem.
Do not overlook the rest of the field with Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, returning after the quarantine for Covid-19, Jason kokrak, winner of the CJ Cup, Matthew Wolff, Jordan Spieth, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, British Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood. From Asia Jazz Janewattananond, 24, one of the best Thai players, still few appearances, but a 14th place in the 2019 PGA Championship.
The tournament is broadcast live on GOLFTV, Discovery's streaming platform.
