An exceptional field, a magnificent context and the doors open free to the public for the third consecutive year: the Italian Open by Damiani shines brighter and brighter, which kicks off this morning at the Milan Golf Club, in the Monza park, a expanse of 685 hectares of forest, populated by more than one hundred thousand trees.
The event turns 72, it's the right time to treat yourself to a special edition and to show the world that Italian golf is ripe to host Ryder in 2022. The decision will come in a few weeks and this is the last showcase that the Federation can show at Ryder Cup Europe before choosing between Italy, Austria, Germany and Spain.
While waiting for this super news, it's worth enjoying four days of sport, elegance, entertainment, hoping that the weather will be good too. There are 156 players on the field, but they will become 65 (and tied) after the cut, at the end of the first 36 holes. One and a half million euros is the stake, 250 thousand euros of which will go to the winner.
Among the big names in the race there are also five major winners: the German Martin Kaymer, the American Stewart Cink, the Irish Padraig Harrington, the Korean YE Yang; the Northern Irish Darren Clarke, captain of the European team of the Ryder 2016. The Italians are 23, among them Francesco Molinari, number 52 in the world, Edoardo Molinari, Matteo Manassero, Renato Paratore, Andrea Pavan, Alessandro Tadini and Marco Crespi, the latter born and raised in Monza. Also noteworthy is the presence of Costantino Rocca, who unfortunately will play this tournament for the last time.
Among the European notables we point out Danny Willett, number two in the European ranking (Race to Dubai); evergreen Miguel Angel Jimenez; the Austrian Bernd Wiesberger. The course is par 72, already home to six Opens and recently extended to 6570 metres, to adapt it to the needs of contemporary golf. As stated on the club's website "The 18 holes are totally immersed in nature, with no houses, roads or pylons that interfere with the course and sometimes border the track of the Autodrome which hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix every year" . In short, a fabulous place and an opportunity for those who want to approach golf and get to know this beautiful sport better.
While the European tour stops in Lombardy, the third round of the Playoffs is being played on the other side of the ocean. There are 70 players who will compete at the BMW Open, at the Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. Few, but very good: from Rory McIlroy to Jordan Spieth, from Jason Day to Rickie Fawler, from Zac Jhonson to Henrik Stenson. Defending the title Billy Horschel, who last year also won the final tournament and therefore the entire American tour.
The prize pool is very rich: 8,250 million dollars; 1,485 million for the former. At the end of this race, only the top 30 in the Fedex standings will remain for next week's grand finale. With the ranking unchanged, everyone will receive a new score, with the aim of offering everyone the opportunity to win the ranking and win the coveted ten million dollar bonus.
