Fansided

Dane Thorbjorn Olesen denies Francesco Molinari victory on home soil

By David Salituro

BRESCIA, ITALY - JUNE 03: Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark poses with the Italian Open trophy after victory in the competition during the final round of the Italian Open at Gardagolf Country Club on June 3, 2018 in Brescia, Italy. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
BRESCIA, ITALY - JUNE 03: Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark poses with the Italian Open trophy after victory in the competition during the final round of the Italian Open at Gardagolf Country Club on June 3, 2018 in Brescia, Italy. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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Francesco Molinari was looking for a win in his native country, but it was Dane Thorbjorn Olesen who got up-and-down at 18 to win the Italian Open by one.

Francesco Molinari’s hope for a second straight European Tour win, this time on home soil, was dashed when Thorbjorn Olesen made a clutch par save on 18 to win the Italian Open by a shot.

Olesen got up-and-down from a greenside bunker on the last to post a bogey-free 64 and 22-under for the tournament, one better than Molinari.

It was Molinari who moments earlier made the partisan crowd erupt. Down by two playing the 72nd hole, he rolled in a 30-footer for birdie to put the pressure on Olesen. Suddenly Olesen went from thinking bogey would be enough, to now having to salvage a par.

Olesen did just that. Despite hitting his drive way left and finding a bunker on his second shot, he pitched up to six feet and converted the putt to seal the victory.

“I was standing down there in the rough and seeing him hole that long birdie putt. In the back of mind I thought bogey probably would make it to win, and then all of a sudden I knew I needed to make four to win,” Olesen said after the round. “That definitely made it tough. But it was nice to hole that putt on the last, and to get that feeling of holing it when it really matters.”

https://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/1003293935291076613

The win is redemption for Olesen. The 28-year-old Dane has gone through a tough season on the European Tour, with just one top-10 prior to this week. But he was finally able to break through and capture his fifth career win.

“Obviously been a little bit of a tough time for me this year. To come into this Rolex Series and to do what I’ve done is amazing. Especially to come from behind to win. I haven’t tried that in my career so far, so that was very special,” he said.

Olesen began the round a shot behind playing partner Lee Slattery. He wasted no time challenging for the lead with a birdie at the first, followed by two more on the front-nine. He rolled in a 20-footer for birdie at the 12th and another short birdie at 13 to jump to the top of the leaderboard.

Slattery fell three back after a bogey at 14. But a long eagle at the par-five 15th cut the deficit to one. Olesen was unbothered, making birdie on the same hole.

Molinari was now Olesen’s main challenger. He was going for his second victory in as many weeks after winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Molinari made a 20-foot birdie at the 14 and tied Olesen with another birdie on 15.

At the 17th, however, Molinari found trouble in a greenside bunker. It led to a costly bogey, and when Olesen birdied the same hole the Dane had a two-shot lead. Molinari gave it his best try, but it was not enough. Still, he takes nothing but positives from this week.

“I gave it my best. Fair play to Thor, he played great to win it. I’m really happy the way I played today,” Molinari said.

Molinari admits the energy of the crowd cheering him on contributed to his strong play on the weekend.

“I was a little bit low on energy earlier in the week…yesterday and today I felt great, feeding off the crowds. I’m close another time. I’ll come back next year and try to do one better.”

Slattery finished in third at 20-under, two behind Olesen. European Ryder Cup vice-captains Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood came in tied for fifth.

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