Italian Open round up

It wasn’t too long ago that Robert MacIntyre had thought his time on the DP World Tour circuit could be coming to an end.

Now, after winning the DS Automobiles Italian Open in Rome, the Scot suddenly has his eyes on a return to the scene of his latest triumph next year to play in the Ryder Cup.

MacIntyre would love nothing more than to represent Team Europe at the Marcos Simone Golf and Country Club in Gudonia Montecelio when the showpiece takes place in 2023.

He now has a chance after ending his long wait for a title in front of Europe captain Luke Donald.

His play-off victory over US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick sealed his first Tour win in 48 events – and MacIntyre makes no attempt to disguise the fact he wondered whether that winning feeling would return.

He said: "This means everything. I was down and out about three months ago, I didn't know what I was doing, didn't know where to go.

"But we spoke to the right people, started working with (coach) Simon Shanks. There's so much work gone into this Mike (Thomson) my caddie, family, friends, everyone.

"The Ryder Cup’s my main goal. My only goal for the next year really. I've done it on this golf course. But I didn't feel this week was going to be the one, the style of course, and the way I was playing.”

MacIntyre, 26, has been dubbed the future of Scottish golf and the man from Oban will be relieved to have followed up his maiden Tour win in Cyprus in 2020 by winning in Rome.

He turned his recent mediocrity around by shooting a 64 to reach 14 under and force the extra holes with Fitzpatrick. He then birdied the first hole of sudden death; one of 11 birdies with his Odyssey Versa 7 putter.

His driving kept him away from danger throughout, while it was his second shots using his TaylorMade P7MCs irons which made the big difference.

His victory saw him not only finish ahead of Fitzpatrick but also Rory McIlroy, who had been one off the lead on Saturday night before a double bogey at the first on Sunday contributed to a 12 under finish.

Compare Golf Prices’ weekly SuperFores competition – which asks you to predict the scores of two golfers in the hope of winning £10,000 worth of golf equipment – will now look for what MacIntyre and Guido Migliozzi deliver at the Cazoo Open de France Golf starting Thursday.

There was no jackpot winner from the Italian Open when Francesco Molinari and Viktor Hovland both finished on one under in tied 34th place, while their scores weren’t matched by Compare Golf Prices’ players.  Norwegian Hovland made the weekend with a 71 and 68 before finishing with a 73 and 71. Molinari bounced back from an opening round 73 with back-to-back 68s only to drop out of contention with a final round 74.

SuperFores player Jack Spalding from Castle Eden Golf Club predicted the closest matches winning the weekly Druids Ambassador pack worth £99.