From today until Sunday, Turin becomes the international capital of golf: the BMW Italian Open, the most important tournament in our country, takes place at the Royal Park i Roveri, with 156 players from all over the world. The most anticipated tee time is at 13,25 pm, on hole one, with Francesco Molinari, Martin Kaymer and Nicolas Colsaerts, that is three of the players who will play the Ryder Cup, the Europe-USA match, at the end of the month.
The Italian one is an appointment that is gaining more and more prestige and reaches its climax this year, with six players in the top 50 of the world rankings, four major winners, the three aforementioned members of Ryder's continental team, captain José Maria Olazàbal and two vice captains, 90 tournament winners on the European Tour, as well as last year's Open winner Robert Rock, who then also finished first in Abu Dhabi ahead of Tiger Woods. In Turin you can follow the legendary Costantino Rocca (born in 1956), or cheer for Edoardo Molinari, finally in the race after wrist surgery, or still hope for Matteo Manassero (19 years old), one of the most important blue promises. There is one and a half million euros up for grabs and the 65 players who manage to pass the cut after the first 36 holes will compete for it. In short, an important event and since hunger comes with eating, the dreams of Italian golf don't stop here: “The Ryder Cup in Turin? – says Andrea Agnelli, president of Roveri:- we work on it, it's a matter of relationships. One step after another, bringing it to Italy would be something great”.
The choice of the date for the 2012 Open is particularly happy, because it fits into a fantastic September golf calendar.
The Fedex Playoffs, the US circuit where players acquire points to challenge each other in four final races, rest this week, in view of the last appointment (September 20-23) at the East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta for the Tour Championship by Coca There. Only number one players will compete in Georgia: 30 players, with an astonishing first coin of ten million dollars (for whoever reaches the highest score based on placement in the four tournaments) and a consolation prize of 175 dollars also for the last qualified. This offers the measure of what the US golf circuit is and explains why many great European champions, from Rory McIlroy to Luke Donald, from Lee Westwood to Ian Poulter, now play permanently in the States. In Atlanta McIlroy is first and big favorite, after winning 2 of the 3 Playoffs tournaments already played. The Irishman is number one in the world today, dominates the rankings of the American tour and that of the European circuit, holds the title of the last major of the season (the PGA) and boasts 4 victories on the tour in 2012, one more than Tiger Woods, who, after having dominated the ranking for 15 years, today has to settle for second place. Tiger has already won 2 of the 5 editions of Playoffs played and Thursday 20 September starts in second place, followed by Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker. The top 5 are much more likely to win the prize, but that doesn't mean that all 30 players have a chance. In short, it is a competition to be enjoyed The emotions do not end here, however, because from 25 to 30 September the great golf moves to Medinah, Illinois, on the outskirts of Chicago. The Europe-USA challenge is played from Friday to Sunday and Europe must defend the title conquered two years ago. For the occasion, the field was revised by the architect Rees Jones and it is safe to bet that it will give the contenders a lot of trouble. Twelve players for each team, who will compete in various competition formulas.
On both sides of the fence, the names sound high-sounding. For Europe McIlory, Donald, Westwood, F.Molinari, Kaymer, Colsaerts, Poulter, Justine Rose, Paul Lawrie, Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson.
For the USA: Woods, Mickelson, Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk.
In short, golf enthusiasts have three wonderful weeks ahead. Those who don't go to Turin can glue themselves to the television and detach themselves from Sunday 30 September to Ryder concluded. Sky broadcasts all the appointments and reserves very large spaces for the Italian Open.
