McIlroy perfectly poised to pounce in Italian Open
MATT FITZPATRICK heads into the final round of the DS Automobiles Italian Open with a one-shot lead – but has Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai breathing down his neck.
US Open champion Fitzpatrick coped brilliantly with the blustery conditions at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club on Saturday, and closed his third-round 69 with a birdie to lead on his own.
World number two McIlroy and Englishman Rai sit one shot behind Fitzpatrick in a tie for second on nine under after contrasting rounds.
Halfway leader McIlroy mixed three birdies with three bogeys in his 71, which he finished with a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
Rai, meanwhile, fired two eagles and two birdies in a flawless 65 to make a huge move up the leaderboard.
McIlroy, who like Fitzpatrick will be hoping to represent Europe when the Ryder Cup is hosted at this venue next year, knows he faces a tough task today.
He said: ‘I think national opens are pretty important things in our game. I’ve been quite fortunate that I’ve won a few of them.
‘This would be another great one to add to the list. So big incentive tomorrow to go out and play well.
‘I know it will be a tough day.
Fitzpatrick is very solid. These are the sort of conditions that he relishes. He’s going to be tough to beat.’
France’s Victor Perez, American Kurt Kitayama and Australian Lucas Herbert were in a threeway tie for fourth on eight under.
Meanwhile, Ines Laklalech secured a historic win at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France by becoming the first Arab and Moroccan woman to win a Ladies European Tour title.
Laklalech, a 24-year-old rookie, is also the first North African woman to win on the tour after defeating England’s Meghan MacLaren with a bogey five on the first play-off hole at Golf Barriere in Deauville.
MacLaren held a two-shot lead with four holes to play, but was pegged back by Laklalech before both players parred the 18th to finish level on 14 under par and force a play-off.
Laklalech, whose husband Ali is also her caddie, said: ‘It feels amazing. It’s special to hear it. I don’t have any words to describe this.
‘I’m surprised because the last time I was in contention was in Sweden at the Skafto Open and I
lost it over the last few holes.’