Fantasy Golf Tournament Preview- Italian Open (European Tour Package)
OVERVIEW
This week we have a new course in the rotation for the Italian Open. Gardagolf Country Club is a typical tree-lined fairways country club that most of us are used to here in the states with the exception of being in the beautiful Italy, with Lake Garda in the background. There’s water on six holes so, of course there will be some blow-ups. Only three par 5’s on the course mean the usual scoring holes are reduced and players will need to rely more heavily on their par 4 scoring, but also not give anything back on the par 5’s. This course hosted the Italian Open back in 2003 & 1997 and the names placing in the Top 5 during those events were some of the best European Tour players at the time: Colin Montgomerie took 2nd in 2003, in 1997, Bernhard Langer won and Darren Clarke took 3rd. Francesco Molinari should be the chalk this week given his win last week and Italian heritage, but I’m not convinced he’s ready to go back-to-back and at an elevated price tag is not worth my time.
TOURNAMENT BACKGROUND
- The Course
- Gardagolf Country Club
- Par: 72
- Yardage: 7,200
- Greens: Bentgrass
- Location: Brescia, Italy
- Past Champions: None at this course
- 2017: Tyrrell Hatton -21 over Kiradech Aphibarnrat & Ross Fisher
- 2016: Francesco Molinari -22 over Danny Willett
- 2015: Rikard Karlberg -19 in a playoff over Martin Kaymer
- 2014: Hennie Otto -20 over David Howell
- 2013: Julien Quesne -12 over David Higgins & Steve Webster
KEY STATS TO TARGET
- Strong Emphasis – Greens in Regulation, Driving Accuracy, Ball Striking, Scrambling
- Important – Current Form, Putting Average
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