Italian Open 2024: Preview, field, betting, tee times, and how to watch the DP World Tour event

Italian Open 2024 Preview

The DP World Tour travels to Italy this week for the penultimate event of the European swing as the Adriatic Golf Club plays host to the Italian Open.

The Italian Open has a long and storied history which stretches back to its inception in 1925. Since then, the tournament has been held 80 times, with major winners such as Greg Norman, Billy Casper, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle among its past champions.

In 2017, the Italian Open was upgraded in stature, becoming one of the eight Rolex Series events, which meant it attracted one of the strongest fields of the year plus a significant increase in prize money.

From 2020, however, it was downgraded back to a regular event, yet it still managed to attract some of the best European players, especially as the venue was Marco Simone Golf and Country Club – host of the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Nicolai Hojgaard, Robert MacIntyre, and Adrian Meronk are the last three winners of the tournament, with Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood coming close in 2022 and 2021 respectively.

Last year, Meronk added the Italian Open to his collection of national titles, prevailing over Romain Langasque by a single stroke. The victory looked as though it may have sealed a place on Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team, yet the Englishman went with Ludvig Aberg instead, which didn’t turn out too badly.

Where is the Italian Open played?

This year’s event will be hosted by Adriatic Golf Club in Ravenna for the very first time. This marks the first change in venue since 2020, as Marco Simone Golf and Country Club held the tournament over the previous three years.

The 2023 Ryder Cup venue was a popular host, but it is now time for a change and the Adriatic Golf Club will be the 27^th course to hold the Italian Open since it began last century.

Founded in 1984, Adriatic Golf Club has three unique loops of nine holes, where players can mix the red, yellow, and blue courses to create an 18-hole layout.

The blue course replicates a typical Scottish-style links setting which is positioned closest to the coastline. The red course is typically inspired by American-style layouts, featuring a host of water hazards, while the yellow course is a more modern design, presenting a slightly different challenge.

What is the format of the Italian Open?

The format of the Italian Open is a standard strokeplay event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds). The player with the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.

Who is in the field at the Italian Open?

The last Italian man to win his national championship is Francesco Molinari, who did so in 2006 and 2016, but he is the only local winner since 1980. Could the 2024 edition throw up a home victor?

Matteo Manassero and Guido Migliozzi lead the Italian charge, with Edoardo Molinari and Renato Paratore also keen to deliver a solid showing in their homeland.

Sebastian Soderberg retired from the KLM Open last week, but he will be keen to finally claim his maiden victory on the DPWT after three-second place finishes this season. He looked to have wrapped up the Scandinavian Mixed title a few weeks ago, but a dismal final round saw him blow an eight-shot lead to lose to Linn Grant.

The full field for the 2024 Italian Open can be found here.

Who will win the Italian Open?

Selected odds (correct 25 June, 12.00):

Patrick Reed 12/1

Tom McKibbin 16/1

Bernd Wiesberger 18/1

Guido Migliozzi 20/1

Laurie Canter 22/1

Jordan Smith 22/1

Matthew Jordan 25/1

Alex Fitzpatrick 35/1

Jesper Svensson 45/1

Sam Bairstow 45/1

How much will the winner of the Italian Open receive?

The prize fund for the 2024 event will be €3,25m, reflecting its prestige on the DP World Tour as this is more than what was on offer at the KLM Open last week.

The winner will receive a cheque for $552,500 plus 4,250 Race to Dubai points, which could prove crucial at this stage of the season.

Who has won the Italian Open?

How to watch the Italian Open?

UK viewers can watch the event on Sky Sports Golf.

Thursday 27 June: Sky Sports Golf, 12.00

Friday 28 June: Sky Sports Golf, 12.00

Saturday 29 June: Sky Sports Golf, 12.30

Sunday 30 June: Sky Sports Golf, 11.30

Italian Open: Tee times and groups

Tee times and groupings can be found here.

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About the Author

Ross Kilvington – Contributing Golf News Writer

Ross Kilvington is a freelance writer from Scotland who currently writes previews for Today’s Golfer, covering events on the DP World, PGA and LPGA tours along with the LIV Golf Series.

Ross holds a passionate interest in golf and tries to play as often as possible, although having two daughters under the age of 6 means his quest to break 80 will have to wait a little longer.

Despite first picking up a club aged 11, highlights are few and far between on the golf course.

An Eagle on the par-4 16th at Kinghorn is one that stands out (it doesn’t matter that it was only 290 yards).