GUIDONIA MONTICIGLIO, Italy – A morning pep talk from European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald in the locker room. Then the afternoon cup ceremony took place at Marco Simone’s club outside Rome.
That’s exactly what Adrian Mironek had dreamed of, and the Polish golfer’s Ryder Cup ambitions began to look like they might become a reality after he won the Italian Open on Sunday less than five months before the sport’s biggest team event is due to be held at the same time. turn.
“I think that’s a strong statement, a solid brick in the wall,” Meronek said. “But it’s not over yet. I know that… I’m going to keep pressing, keep doing my best to get into the team. But I think that will help a little bit.”
Mironc finished 13th-under overall with a 2-under 69 to win by one stroke over Romain Langesc with third-round leader Julien Guerrier three strokes behind in third.
It’s not the first time Mironc has done well in Marco Simon, after he finished tied for second behind Nicholas Hoggard At the 2021 Italian Open. He also showed his team’s credentials when he putt a 25-foot par 18th putt to claim the spot for continental Europe in the Champion’s Cup playing event in January.
“I wanted to play well against Luke, and winning the championship is very comfortable,” said Mironek. “I saw [Donald] This morning in the locker room. He said: continue. good luck.’ Very nice, encouraging words from him.”
The win – his third on the European Tour – would lift the 6-foot-5 Mironc to fourth in the standings for the Race to Dubai.
Next, Donald chirp that it was a “fantastic win”, adding that Mironek showed “some solid golf all week and made the right shots when he needed them most.”
“We’re starting to make winning a habit. Well done Adrian,” Donald concluded.
Meronk hit his three-wood just in front of the green on the par-4 drivable 16th to make a birdie giving him a one-stroke lead. Then he got up and down the tough par-3 par 17 after hitting the tee right of the hard green.
On the 18th, Mironk sank a 7-foot birdie putt, which nearly sealed the title with Langasek driving into the high grass right of the fairway in the final pairing behind him.
“It just suits my game,” Mironek said of the course. “You have to be careful off the tee. Fairways are crucial here, because if you miss it, it gets tough. This week, my short game was the big advantage for me. I saved several shots from difficult positions. … It makes the game easier.” Much when you’re not playing your best.”
Hojgaard also showed his abilities again in Marco Simone, finishing with a 6-under 65 to finish in a tie for fifth, six strokes behind Meronk.
From September 29 to October 1, Marco Simon will become the third venue on the European continent to host the Ryder Cup after Valderrama in Spain (1997) and Le Golf National in France (2018).