With a total score of -13, Nicolai Hojgaard won this Sunday in Rome to become the youngest winner of the Italian Open. A week after the victory of his twin brother Rasmus at the Omega European Masters, Nicolai Hojgaard went for his first victory on the European Tour in Italy with guts. A card of 71 in the par was enough for the Dane but after two consecutive bogeys on 14 and 15, Hojgaard got his pursuers back in the game.
Tied at -12 overall with Tommy Fleetwood (71) and Adrian Meronk (66) at the start of the 18th, Nicolai Hojgaard made an incredible third shot on this par 5: a wedge with a perfect backspin to place himself 1m from the hole and give yourself a chance for birdie and avoid playoffs.
“I have never been so nervous in my life”
The 20-year-old Dane does not tremble and enters his small putt to win after a day full of emotions and twists: “I struggled with the speed of the greens on the return, that’s when I started to wonder. Luckily I put in a good faceoff on the 17th and then I birdie on the 18th, it’s just amazing. I have never been so nervous in my life when it comes time to putt for the win, I had a hard time moving the putter. It’s fabulous to win a week after my brother. ”
It is the first time in the history of the European Tour that two brothers have won a title for two consecutive weeks.
Perez first French in 18th place
Among the French, Victor Perez is the highest in the standings. In the top 10 the day before, Perez finished 18th at -6 overall with a card of 74 this Sunday. In the par for this last lap, Victor Dubuisson is 27th at -4. Behind, we find Julien Quesne (72) at -3 but also Alexander Levy (77), 6th the day before, who had a nightmare on the return trip with six consecutive bogeys to finally finish 34th.
Julien Guerrier (70) and Adrien Saddier (70) are 44th to -2, Antoine Rozner (72) is in the par total in 52nd place. Above par, Benjamin Hébert (73) is 57th at +1, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (68) finishes 60th at +2 and Robin Roussel (70) 63rd at +4.
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