Italian Open 2018: Form stats for this week's event in Brescia

After a wait of more than 15 years, the Italian Open returns to the stunning Gardagolf Country Club in Lombardy.

Opened 32 years ago and situated close to Lake Garda, in the Province of Brescia, this week's photogenic venue is approximately 80 miles east of Milan.

This will be the fourth European Tour event to be staged at Gardagolf, with its former winners being Sam Torrance (1993), Bernhard Langer (1997) and Mathias Gronberg (2003).

Since the Swede's triumph, Gardagolf has also hosted three Challenge Tour events, most recently 12 years ago.

This superbly crafted parkland layout in northern Italy is the home course of Matteo Manassero, with the club offering 27 wonderfully scenic holes.

This week's tournament will combine the nine holes of the White Course, with nine from the Red - the latter being the back nine.

Water will come into play on six holes of this rolling tree-lined venue, with the tournament being the second of seven in the Tour's lucrative Rolex Series.

And many of Europe's leading players, who teed-up at Wentworth last week, are competing again in Brescia.

Hero's Welcome!

Italy's top player Francesco Molinari is likely to receive a hero's welcome, following his well-deserved victory at Wentworth on Sunday.

Even by his own levels of consistency, the 35-year-old conjured up a remarkable performance over the West Course - just two bogies all week and none in his final 44 holes.

British Challenge

It's been almost three months since a Brit won on the European Tour but this could change in Lombardy.

Ross Fisher tied-second in Milan last October and enjoyed a top-10 finish at Wentworth over the weekend.

The 37-year-old Ascot-born pro is one of the few players teeing-up who has previously competed at this week's venue.

Back in 2005, Fisher finished fifth when the Challenge Tour visited northern Italy.

Another Englishman who showed up well in the BMW PGA Championship last week was Matt Fitzpatick.

The Sheffield golfer finished in a tie-for-eighth alongside Fisher, thanks to a closing 67. It was only his second top 10 since mid-November.

Gardagolf Knowledge

Few of this week's competitors teed-up in 2003 when the Italian Open was last staged at Gardagolf.

One such player was Ian Poulter, who ended up in a share of 18th spot.

Poulter's first European Tour victory arrived in Italy and the current world No 27 could be among the front-runners once again.

Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello looked in good shape last week off the tee, while his putting stats are also currently quite impressive.

If he can start finding a few more greens in regulation, then his next victory may not be that far away.

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

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