Year 2019: at the Golfclub Mnchen Eichenried, on the thirtieth anniversary of the BMW International Open, Andrea Pavan beats a future Major champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, in the playoff and thus takes home the trophy. To date, that remains the only Italian satisfaction in a tournament in which several famous men have triumphed: from Paul Azinger and Colin Montgomerie to more recent times with Viktor Hovland, who took the 2021 edition.
Pavan will return again this year, although the spotlight is now on others. It is true, however, that his consistency in the last two weeks has been truly remarkable, one that rightfully places him among the men to keep an eye on in this edition.
And with him also Guido Migliozzi and Matteo Manassero, as well as Filippo Celli, all in excellent shape with the KLM Open-Open of Italy pairing. Furthermore, a place was earned thanks to the top ten in Milano Marittima by the great Gregorio De Leo, who will thus play the first DP World Tour tournament outside Italy.
Also present in the Italian team are Edoardo Molinari, Lorenzo Scalise, Francesco Laporta and Renato Paratore for a total of nine Azzurri. And speaking of them, it is worth remembering their placings in the Race to Dubai (led by McIlroy with above all the share of the Majors): 7th Migliozzi, 15th Manassero, 51st Pavan, 88th Paratore among those who can currently maintain the paper.
Very close are Celli, 123rd, and Scalise, 130th. Speaking of Guido Migliozzi, the Vicenza native faces this tournament as the leader of the European Swing, the part of the DP World Tour tournaments which includes the Soudal Open, European Open, Scandinavian Mixed, KLM Open, Italian Open and BMW International Open.
Behind him the Spaniard Nacho Elvira, the Englishman Laurie Canter, the German Marcel Siem who won at the Adriatic Golf Club Cervia, the Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin. Furthermore, in this ranking there is Pavan 12th and also Manassero 22nd.
In practice, there are really several important themes to give a level of interest, even in a tricolor key, to an event that has its own excellent history. And which sees the South African Thriston Lawrence return as reigning champion.
But there is also another aspect to take into consideration: this tournament, in fact, will define which will be the 5 players who will play the Open Championship at Royal Troon from 18 to 21 July. We already know that Francesco Molinari will participate as a former winner and Guido Migliozzi after winning the KLM Open.
In particular, the 5 best of the Race to Dubai who are not yet in via alternative routes will enter. To date, Matteo Manassero is fourth (by virtue of 15th place) in this ranking. In front of him are Svensson (6th), Canter (10th) and Elvira (11th), behind Otaegui (16th).
There are many who are attacking these positions, but the hope is to be able to bring at least three Italians to the last Major of the year.
