Italian Open (golf)

Italian Open
Tournament information
LocationMonte Argentario, Italy
Established1925
Course(s)Argentario Golf Club
Par71
Length6,800 yards (6,200 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund3,000,000
Month playedJune
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Percy Alliss (1935)
262 Francesco Molinari (2016)
262 Thorbjørn Olesen (2018)
To par−25 Hennie Otto (2008)
Current champion
Adrien Saddier
Location map
Argentario GC
Location in Italy
Argentario GC
Location in Tuscany

The Italian Open (Italian: Open d'Italia) is the men's national open golf championship of Italy. It was founded in 1925 and, except for 1933 and during World War II, was played annually until 1960. After an eleven-year hiatus, it returned in 1971 when it was one of five tournaments in Continental Europe that were included on the British PGA Order of Merit circuit.[1] The following year of that circuit has since been recognised as the first official season of the European Tour, and the Italian Open is one of few tournaments that have featured on the schedule every year. The 2018 event was the 75th edition of the championship.

In 2017 the European Tour created the Rolex Series, a group of events with higher prize money, with the Italian Open being one of the designated events with total prize money increased to US$7 million, more than double that of the previous year.[2][3] In 2020 the tournament was not part of the Rolex Series, having been rescheduled with much lower prize money due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

History

In 1935, British golfer Percy Alliss scored a 262 aggregate on his way to winning the event. He established the lowest 72-hole total ever in any golf tournament ever at the time. The legitimacy of the record was in doubt, according to Time, as the length of the San Remo course was only 5,200 yards, far below the international "championship standard."[5][6] Many decades later, in 2008, South African Hennie Otto was just one stroke away from Alliss' total, still the tournament record.

Venues

Venue Location First Last Times
Golf Club Alpino di Stresa Stresa 1925 1927 3
Circolo Golf Villa d'Este Montorfano 1928 1972 12
Circolo Golf degli Ulivi, Sanremo Sanremo 1934 1948 5
Sestrieres Golf Club Sestriere 1936 1936 1
Circolo del Golf Roma, Acquasanta Rome 1950 1980 3
Golf Club Milano Monza 1951 2017 9
Circolo Golf Venezia Venice 1955 1974 3
Golf Club Varese Varese 1958 1958 1
Golf Club Garlenda Garlenda 1971 1971 1
Olgiata Golf Club Rome 1973 2019 2 (+1)
Golf Club Monticello Como 1975 1992 7
Circolo Golf Is Molas Pula, Sardinia 1976 2001 4
Pevero Golf Club Arzachena, Sardinia 1978 1978 1
Circolo Golf Ugolino Florence 1983 1983 1
Molinetto Country Club Milan 1985 1985 1
Golf Club Albarella Venice 1986 1986 1
Castelconturbia Golf Club Borgomanero 1991 1998 2
Modena Golf and Country Club Modena 1993 1993 1
Marco Simone Golf and Country Club Rome 1994 2022 4
Le Rovedine Golf Club Milan 1995 1995 1
Golf Club Bergamo "L'Albenza" Bergamo 1996 1996 1
Gardagolf Country Club Brescia 1997 2018 3
Circolo Golf Torino "La Mandria" Turin 1999 2014 3
Golf Club Castello Tolcinasco Milan 2004 2008 5
Royal Park i Roveri Turin 2009 2012 4
Chervò Golf Hotel and Spa Resort Pozzolengo 2020 2020 1
Adriatic Golf Club Cervia Cervia 2024 2024 1
Argentario Golf Club Monte Argentario 2025 2025 1

In 1973 the first two rounds were played on two different courses, Acquasanta and Olgiata, everyone playing one round on each course. After the cut, Acquasanta was then used for the final two rounds.

Winners

European Tour (Rolex Series) 2017–2019
European Tour (Regular) 1972–2016, 2020–
Pre-European Tour 1925–1971
# Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.
Italian Open
82nd 2025 Adrien Saddier 266 −14 2 strokes Martin Couvra Argentario
81st 2024 Marcel Siem 274 −10 Playoff Tom McKibbin Adriatic
DS Automobiles Italian Open
80th 2023 Adrian Meronk 271 −13 1 stroke Romain Langasque Marco Simone
79th 2022 Robert MacIntyre 270 −14 Playoff Matt Fitzpatrick Marco Simone
78th 2021 Nicolai Højgaard 271 −13 1 stroke Tommy Fleetwood
Adrian Meronk
Marco Simone
Italian Open
77th[a] 2020 Ross McGowan 268 −20 1 stroke Laurie Canter
Nicolas Colsaerts
Chervò
76th 2019 Bernd Wiesberger 268 −16 1 stroke Matt Fitzpatrick Olgiata
75th 2018 Thorbjørn Olesen 262 −22 1 stroke Francesco Molinari Gardagolf
74th 2017 Tyrrell Hatton 263 −21 1 stroke Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Ross Fisher
Milano
73rd 2016 Francesco Molinari (2) 262 −22 1 stroke Danny Willett Milano
Open d'Italia
72nd 2015 Rikard Karlberg 269 −19 Playoff Martin Kaymer Milano
71st 2014 Hennie Otto (2) 268 −20 2 strokes David Howell Torino
Open d'Italia Lindt
70th 2013 Julien Quesne 276 −12 1 stroke David Higgins
Steve Webster
Torino
BMW Italian Open
69th 2012 Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (2) 264 −24 2 strokes Garth Mulroy Royal Park i Roveri
68th 2011 Robert Rock 267 −21 1 stroke Gary Boyd
Thorbjørn Olesen
Royal Park i Roveri
67th 2010 Fredrik Andersson Hed 268 −16 2 strokes David Horsey Royal Park i Roveri
66th 2009 Daniel Vancsik 267 −17 6 strokes John Daly
Raphaël Jacquelin
Robert Rock
Royal Park i Roveri
Methorios Capital Italian Open
65th 2008 Hennie Otto 263 −25 1 stroke Oliver Wilson Castello Tolcinasco
Telecom Italia Open
64th 2007 Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño 200[b] −16 Playoff Markus Brier Castello Tolcinasco
63rd 2006 Francesco Molinari 265 −23 4 strokes Anders Hansen
Jarmo Sandelin
Castello Tolcinasco
62nd 2005 Steve Webster 270 −18 3 strokes Bradley Dredge
Richard Finch
Anders Hansen
Castello Tolcinasco
61st 2004 Graeme McDowell 197[b] −19 Playoff Thomas Levet Castello Tolcinasco
Italian Open Telecom Italia
60th 2003 Mathias Grönberg 271 −17 2 strokes Ricardo González
José Manuel Lara
Colin Montgomerie
Gardagolf
59th 2002 Ian Poulter (2) 197[b] −19 2 strokes Paul Lawrie Olgiata
Atlanet Italian Open
58th 2001 Grégory Havret 268 −20 1 stroke Bradley Dredge Is Molas
Italian Open
57th 2000 Ian Poulter 267 −21 1 stroke Gordon Brand Jnr Is Molas
Fiat and Fila Italian Open
56th 1999 Dean Robertson 271 −17 1 stroke Pádraig Harrington Torino
Italian Open
55th 1998 Patrik Sjöland 195[b] −21 3 strokes Joakim Haeggman
José María Olazábal
Castelconturbia
Conte of Florence Italian Open
54th 1997 Bernhard Langer (2) 273 −15 1 stroke José María Olazábal Gardagolf
53rd 1996 Jim Payne 275 −9 1 stroke Patrik Sjöland Bergamo
Italian Open
52nd 1995 Sam Torrance (2) 269 −19 2 strokes José Rivero Le Rovedine
Tisettanta Italian Open
51st 1994 Eduardo Romero 272 −16 1 stroke Greg Turner Marco Simone
Lancia Martini Italian Open
50th 1993 Greg Turner 267 −21 1 stroke José Cóceres Modena
49th 1992 Sandy Lyle (2) 270 −18 1 stroke Colin Montgomerie Monticello
48th 1991 Craig Parry 279 −9 1 stroke Ian Woosnam Castelconturbia
47th 1990 Richard Boxall 267 −21 5 strokes José María Olazábal Milano
Lancia Italian Open
46th 1989 Ronan Rafferty 273 −15 1 stroke Sam Torrance Monticello
45th 1988 Greg Norman 270 −18 1 stroke Craig Parry Monticello
44th 1987 Sam Torrance 271 −17 Playoff José Rivero Monticello
Italian Open
43rd 1986 David Feherty 270 −10 Playoff Ronan Rafferty Albarella
42nd 1985 Manuel Piñero 267 −21 1 stroke Sam Torrance Molinetto
41st 1984 Sandy Lyle 277 −11 4 strokes Bobby Clampett Milano
40th 1983 Bernhard Langer 271 −17 Playoff Seve Ballesteros
Ken Brown
Ugolino
39th 1982 Mark James 280 −8 3 strokes Bobby Clampett
Ian Woosnam
Is Molas
38th 1981 José María Cañizares 280 −8 Playoff Bobby Clampett Milano
37th 1980 Massimo Mannelli 276 −8 5 strokes John Bland
Ken Brown
Acquasanta
36th 1979 Brian Barnes 281 −7 Playoff Dale Hayes Monticello
35th 1978 Dale Hayes 293 +5 3 strokes Vin Baker
Tommy Horton
Pevero
34th 1977 Ángel Gallardo 286 −2 Playoff Brian Barnes Monticello
33rd 1976 Baldovino Dassù 280 −8 8 strokes Carl Mason
Manuel Piñero
Is Molas
32nd 1975 Billy Casper 286 −2 1 stroke Brian Barnes Monticello
31st 1974 Peter Oosterhuis 249[c] −2 2 strokes Dale Hayes
Johnny Miller
Venezia
30th 1973 Tony Jacklin 284 −4 1 stroke Valentín Barrios Acquasanta
Olgiata
[7]
29th 1972 Norman Wood 271 −1 2 strokes Brian Huggett Villa d'Este
28th 1971 Ramón Sota 282 −2 4 strokes Brian Barnes Garlenda [8]
1961–1970: No tournament
27th 1960 Brian Wilkes 285 2 strokes Jean Garaïalde Venezia
26th 1959 Peter Thomson 269 1 stroke Alfonso Angelini Villa d'Este
25th 1958 Peter Alliss 282 10 strokes Alfonso Angelini Varese
24th 1957 Harold Henning 273 3 strokes Roger Cotton Villa d'Este
23rd 1956 Antonio Cerdá 284 Playoff Flory Van Donck Milano
22nd 1955 Flory Van Donck (4) 287 1 stroke Henri de Lamaze (a) Venezia
21st 1954 Ugo Grappasonni (2) 272 Playoff[d] John Jacobs Villa d'Este
20th 1953 Flory Van Donck (3) 269 6 strokes Max Faulkner
Dai Rees
Villa d'Este
19th 1952 Eric Brown 273 6 strokes Alfonso Angelini Milano
18th 1951 Jimmy Adams 283 1 stroke Eric Brown Milano
17th 1950 Ugo Grappasonni 281 Playoff Alfonso Angelini Acquasanta
16th 1949 Hassan Hassanein 271 Aldo Casera Villa d'Este
15th 1948 Aldo Casera 267 Ugo Grappasonni
Pietro Manca
Golf Sanremo
14th 1947 Flory Van Donck (2) 263 Aldo Casera Golf Sanremo
1939–1946: No tournament due to World War II
13th 1938 Flory Van Donck 276 Pulvio Travaini Villa d'Este
12th 1937 Marcel Dallemagne 276 Playoff Auguste Boyer Golf Sanremo
11th 1936 Henry Cotton 268 6 strokes Joe Ezar Sestrieres
10th 1935 Percy Alliss (2) 262 5 strokes Auguste Boyer
Arthur Havers
Golf Sanremo
9th 1934 Norman Nutley 132 Gonzales Golf Sanremo
1933: No tournament
8th 1932 Aubrey Boomer 143 Auguste Boyer Villa d'Este
7th 1931 Auguste Boyer (4) 141 René Golias Villa d'Este
6th 1930 Auguste Boyer (3) 140 Marcel Dallemagne Villa d'Este
5th 1929 René Golias 143 Auguste Boyer Villa d'Este
4th 1928 Auguste Boyer (2) 145 1 stroke Jean Baptiste Loth Villa d'Este
3rd 1927 Percy Alliss 145 Playoff Marcel Dallemagne Alpino di Stresa
2nd 1926 Auguste Boyer 147 Alec Ross Alpino di Stresa
1st 1925 Francesco Pasquali 154 1 stroke William Jolly Alpino di Stresa

Source:[9]

Multiple winners

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 tournament was originally scheduled as a Rolex Series event but was downgraded as a result of rescheduling with a reduced prize fund due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ^ a b c d Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
  3. ^ Shortened to 63 holes due to weather.
  4. ^ Grappasonni beat Jacobs 137 to 138 in a 36-hole playoff.

References

  1. ^ "Extra £32,000 at stake for Britons". The Times. 7 December 1971. p. 10. Retrieved 24 February 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  2. ^ "European Tour announces Rolex Series, overhaul of top events". ESPN. Associated Press. 15 November 2016.
  3. ^ "European Tour launches the Rolex Series". PGA European Tour. 15 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Two Rolex Series events cancelled; three new events on European Tour". Sky Sports. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  5. ^ "The Baltimore Sun 27 May 1940, page 13". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  6. ^ "Low, Long & Little". Time. 26 July 1937. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  7. ^ "Tony Jacklin wins Italian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 23 April 1973. p. 4.
  8. ^ "Spaniard holds off British challenge in Italian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 29 March 1971. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Roll of Honor". Italian Open.

45°24′32″N 10°35′42″E / 45.409°N 10.595°E / 45.409; 10.595