Olesen Shoots 64, Wins Italian Open

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Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Reddington

Thorbjørn Olesen shot a bogey-free final-round 64 to capture the Italian Open by one shot over native son Francesco Molinari, and two clear of 54-hole leader Lee Slattery.

Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Reddington

Olesen finished his final day in Brescia, Italy with seven birdies, including four over a six-hole stretch (Nos. 12-17) on the closing-nine en route to a four-day score of 22-under par.

Molinari, the hometown favorite, made a 30-foot birdie on 18 to sign for a final-day 65 and reach 21 under par, one clear of Englishman Slattery (67).

The win is Olesen’s fifth career title but first since the 2016 Turkish Airlines Open.

“To come into this Rolex Series and to do what I’ve done is amazing, especially to come from behind and win,” said Olesen who had struggled for most of the season, posting just one top 10.

“I haven’t done that in my career so far, so that was very special.

“It was nice to hole that putt on the last and to get that feeling of holing it when it really matters.

“This is exactly what I needed. Well, it’s always what we need but right now for me it’s great.”

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello shot a 66 to finish alone in fourth at 18 under. Englishmen Lee Westwood (63) and Andy Sullivan (67) joined Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (64) at 17 under.

A logjam of six players were bunched at 16 under and T8, highlighted by veterans Ian Poulter (67), Danny Willet (69), and Martin Kaymer (69).

FINAL TOP 10

1 Thorbjørn Olesen -22
2 Francesco Molinari -21
3 Lee Slattery -20
4 Rafael Cabrera Bello -18
5 Lee Westwood -17
5 Graeme McDowell -17
5 Andy Sullivan -17
8 Callum Shinkwin -16
8 Ryan Fox -16
8 Ian Poulter -16
8 Jordan Smith -16
8 Martin Kaymer -16
8 Danny Willett -16


WINNER’S STATS

Driving: 277.3 yards (44th)
Fairways: 46.4% (70th)
Greens: 76.4% (21st)
Putting: 1.599 (4th)
Scoring: 1 Eagle, 24 Birdies, 43 Pars, 4 bogeys


VIDEO: WINNER’S HIGHLIGHTS


QUOTABLE

“Yeah, I was standing down there in the rough, and seeing him [Molinari] hole that long birdie putt, and in back of my mind, I thought bogey probably would make it to win, and then all of a sudden, I knew I needed to make 4 to win. That definitely made it tough, but it was nice to hole that putt on the last and to get that feeling of, yeah, holing it when it really matters.”
– Thorbjørn Olesen

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