OLSEN STAYS COOL IN ITALIAN HEAT
THORBJORN OLESEN claimed the Italian Open after a thrilling final round battle with Francesco Molinari and Lee Slattery.
The 28-year-old needed a par at the last to secure his fifth European Tour title after home favourite Molinari sent the crowd wild with a birdie from 30 feet on the final hole.
But the Dane made an BY TED TRACEY excellent up and down from a greenside bunker to complete a final round 64 and 22-under total.
That was one ahead of last week’s Wentworth winner Molinari, with overnight leader Slattery third on 20 under at Gardagolf in Milan.
Olsen said: “It’s been a little bit of a tough time for me this year so this is unbelievable. To do what I’ve done is amazing, especially to come from behind and win.
“I haven’t done that in my career so that was very special.”
The win gave Dane 1,166,660 Race to Dubai points moving him to sixth in the year-long rankings and also boost his hopes of making a first Ryder Cup appearance in France in September.
Molinari said: “I’m super happy. It’s been an amazing week. I’ll never forget the run of birdies today on the back nine.
“I can’t complain, I have played well all week. His putt on the 18th was just unbelievable.” JOE ROOT has warned England’s innings win over Pakistan must not “paper over the cracks”.
Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 80 inspired an innings and 55-run victory at Headingley to draw the two-match series 1-1.
It comes a week after England’s nine-wicket loss at Lord’s in the first home Test of the summer.
Root said: “It’s very important we don’t paper over the cracks and think this is us. This is the first step towards our goal.” GUY LEARMONTH made a disastrous start to his summer by finishing last in the 800metres at the FBK Games in Hengelo.
He was 11th in 1:46.32 as Kenya’sJonathan Kitlit claimed victory.
But Beth Dobbin broke a Scottish 200m record that stood 34 years.
She won in 22.84 at the Premier League in Eton to beat Sandra Whittaker’s 22.98 – and move her second in the UK behind Dina Asher-Smith.