Lake Garda return for Italian Open

Lake Garda’s Gardagolf Country Club will host the 2018 Italian Open for the first time in 15 years between May 31-June 3.

The timing of the tournament has also changed from its usual October date on the schedule and will now be the second Rolex Series event of the new year, taking place in the week after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The last time an Italian Open took place at the venue, Sweden?s Mathias Gronberg claimed a two-stroke victory back in 2003.

Following confirmation of the news, Keith Waters, chief operating officer of the European Tour, told the official website: “We are delighted to be returning to Gardagolf Country Club, one of Italy?s great golf courses, and with such a stunning location for our members and golf fans at Lake Garda, we are extremely pleased to bring a Rolex Series event to this fantastic venue.

“We saw the Italian Open grow immensely this year with a very strong field competing for a prize fund of US$7 million, and I am certain that another exciting chapter in the history of Italian golf will be written in May, as Italian golf fans also look forward to the preparations that are taking place in their country ahead of The 2022 Ryder Cup.”

Tagged Italian Open