Course OutlineThe Adriatic Cervia Golf Club has a total of 27 holes, divided into three groups of 9 holes each, each with its own character. The “Red” course was the first course to open in 1986, running through the local pine forest; the “Blue” course followed closely behind, imitating a Florida-style course with water coming from the many lakes on the course. The “Yellow” course is the most recent addition in 2004, imitating a Scottish links course.
It is reported that in this tournament, we will use the yellow course as the outer 9 holes and the red course as the inner 9 holes. The par of the red course is 5 and 6.day Become a long par 4 15day Suitable for professional players, the par is 70 and the total yardage is 6,965 yards.
In addition to the contrasting nine holes, the holes themselves are varied, with the remaining two par 5s measuring 553 and 619 yards respectively, and the course having a total of five par 4s under 400 yards.
The course is located inland from the Adriatic coast, but none of the holes actually touch the sea, so there is no real test of the coastal feel. In 2011, the tees and fairways were replanted with Bermuda grass, and the greens were planted with ryegrass.
Tournament StatisticsWe've released some key player statistics for this week's Italian Open, which will help us understand the players who traditionally do well at the tournament.
As mentioned before, this year's venue is hosting it for the first time, so the event history should be considered accordingly: Current form | Competition Format | First Round Leaders Statistics | Merge current table/event table.
Prediction ModelThe prediction model we published is Available hereAs always, you can build your own models using the available variables.
Winners and Prizes.2023: Adrian Melonk, 22/1; 2022: Robert McIntyre, 50/1; 2021: Nicola Hoggard, not applicable*; 2020: Rose McGowan, 750/1; 2019: Bernd Weisberg, 35/1; 2018: Torbjorn Olsen, 80/1Tyrrell Hatton, 2017: 18/1; 2016: Francesco Molinari, 25/1; 2015: Rickard Carlberg, 70/1; 2014: Hennie Otto, 80/1; 2013: Julian Quesner, 80/1; 2012: Gonzalo Ferdez-Castano, 40/1; 2011: Robert Locke, 66/1; 2010: Frederick Anderson Hurd, 66/1.
* Nicolai Hojgaard was a late invite to the 2021 Italian Open, with the invitation not disclosed prior to the tournament.
Weather forecast. Latest weather forecast for the area here.
The early week rain looks to be on hold before the tournament begins on Thursday, so the weather should be nice to start with, with sunny afternoon temperatures near 80-85 degrees and light winds around 5-10 mph.
Incoming Material FormOur recent Italian Open champions have had mixed results, but with the exception of Ross McGowan, all have posted top-14 finishes in six starts in 2020:
- 2023, Adrien Melonc: 7/34/1/10/MC/4/45/14/MC/17/MC/21
- 2022, Robert McIntyre: MC/36/77/MC/MC/13/MC/34/20/MC/12/50
- 2021, Nicola Hoggard: 15/74/4/40/45/MC/42/14/MC/MC/21/17
- 2020, Rose McGowan: MC/MC/MC/MC/MC/70/MC/55/52/42/67/MC
- Bernd Wiesberger, 2019: 1/8/76/16/2/1/32/30/MC/5/17/MC
- Thorbjörn Olsen, 2018: 5/12/36/53/29/MC/10/MC/46/37/MC/60
- 2017, Tyrell Hatton: 41/30/MC/MC/MC/MC/MC/36/MC/3/8/1
- 2016, Francesco Molinari: 42/17/7/55/MC/34/8/2/36/22/47/MC
- 2015, Rickard Carlberg: MC/21/43/MC/MC/MC/10/MC/9/14/13/36
- 2014, Hennie Otto: 37/37/37/9/5/13/41/13/57/WD/MC/39
- Julien Quesne in 2013: 9/27/MC/MC/68/9/WD/MC/MC/58/41/7
- 2012, Gonzalo Verdez-Castano: 53/MC/2/MC/3/MC/31/54/55/62/76/5
- 2011, Robert Locke: MC/MC/45/20/58/40/19/13/52/29/45/MC
- 2010, Frederick Anderson-Hyde: 35/5/4/MC/4/18/44/7/28/MC/13/17
Event Form. It is worth noting that three of the past 12 Italian Open champions have already won the title in their careers, and 10 of the past 14 champions have finished in the top 6 or better in the event before winning.
Multiple winners of the event include Ian Poulter, Bernhard Langer, Sam Torrance and Sandy Lyle, and it’s clear that this is an event, or rather this style of event, that favours the same type of players year after year – indeed, even 2020’s astounding 750/1 winner Ross McGowan finished 6th in 2008:
- 2023, Adrien Meronc: 22/2/MC
- 2022 Robert McIntyre: 4
- 2021, Nicola Hoggard: 16
- Ross McGowan, 2020: 6/MC/MC/51
- 2019, Bernd Weisberg: MC/15/63/23/6/14/45
- Thorbjörn Olsen, 2018: 2/53/67/MC/32
- 2017, Tyrell Hatton: MC/45
- 2016, Francesco Molinari: MC/MC/23/MC/13/17/1/3/MC/6/8/46/16/18/20
- 2015, Rickard Carlberg: MC
- 2014, Hennie Otto: MC/47/MC/33/1/MC/7/46/22/8
- 2013, Julian Quesner: MC/MC
- Gonzalo Ferdez-Castano, 2012: 6/1/MC
- 2011, Robert Locke: 48/37/MC/56/51/2/17
- 2010, Frederick Anderson-Hyde: MC/9/28/MC/3/MC/54
With no real clues in terms of the course's history, we're left guessing again this week about how the fusion of the two nines will play out. The card suggests that precision is more likely to prevail than power, however, with a lackluster weather forecast and the possibility of pre-tournament rain softening the greens, aggressive players who keep their ball in play may excel just as well this week.
My choices are as follows:
