Andrea Pavan must have appreciated having such a close stand.
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We’ve seen grandstanding at the highest levels of professional golf — like “Dinah’s Wall” at the 2020 ANA Inspiration — but this week’s Italian Open may have taken it to a whole new level.
The hospitality suite at the Adriatic Golf Club's 18th hole is just feet from the putting surface, making it easy for guests to swing.
Still, Italy's Andrea Pavan thanked them on Saturday.
In the third round of the day, Pavan was six under and four shots behind going into the final hole when his tee shot missed the fairway and was hit by a large ball from the light rough on the left. His ball flew right over the pin and would have landed in the rough a few steps from the green. He would have had to chip short to hit the pin on the back left.
On the contrary, the ball boom It hit the reception room directly, but somehow did not hit the surrounding glass panels.
After that, the ball never reappeared. Well, maybe it was, but Pavan didn't find it. In most cases, a lost ball means the two-time DP World Tour champion has to go back to where he made his last shot, drop it and play again, incurring penalty strokes and distance for the lost ball.
But in this case, Pawan and DP World Tour officials determined that Pawan's ball almost certainly disappeared into the hospitality area, meaning he was free to get rid of the temporary immovable barrier. This was a fair ruling because if it weren't for the suite, Pawan would have easily been able to find his ball.
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A similar situation occurred at this year's Sony Open, when Carl Yuan's ball couldn't land in the reception area, resulting in a free rescue. Only this time, Pavan's break chance was much better because he was so close to the stands. The ball was almost on the green.
Pawan would drop a club length from the spot where the ball ended up in the reception area, just as he told his playing partner to do. This meant that his drop shot ended up a club length from the stands, which were only a club length from the green to begin with!
His ball ended up on the edge of the green, about 20 feet from the hole.
From there, Pavon was able to putt and hole it out for an unexpected birdie in the final round.
The announcer said, “This is the first bride I've seen in the reception department.”
The birdie was crucial for Pavan as he finished at 7-under, just 3 shots behind the leader. A third DP World Tour title could be crucial for the 35-year-old as he only regained his DP World Tour status last season on the Challenge Tour.
