– Dan Bradbury (-6) is the first leader of the Italian Open. The Argentario Golf Club is an iron course. You have to hit a lot from the tee because the lurking hazards invite caution, and then you need to be precise with your shots to the green to leave birdie opportunities. Bradbury is very good with irons. His great start in Tuscany is not surprising.
– The Englishman has a one-shot lead over Andreas Halvorsen (-5), the best of the morning, and Francesco Laporta (-5), the second-best of the afternoon and the first Italian in the standings. He has been seeking his first victory on the DP World Tour for some time. He has been close more than once. He just needs to finish it off. There wouldn’t be a better week for him. He is 34 years old, coincidentally the same age as J.J. Spaun, winner of the US Open two weeks ago.
– The Italian Open leaderboard is very tight. A handkerchief. There are only six shots between the lead and the current cut line (PAR). Between -2 and -1, there are 45 players. Anything can happen. An open tournament from par to par, both to make a leap and put yourself in contention for victory or to miss the cut this Friday without feeling like you’ve played poorly. Tense cut day this Friday.
– Iván Cantero (-3) was the best Spaniard of the afternoon. A round of 67 shots, with four birdies and a solitary bogey. He is in the top 10, one behind Ángel Ayora, the best Spaniard in the tournament so far. The Asturian has matched his best result on a Thursday this year. He also shot 67 in Ras al Khaimah… and finished fifth and repeated with another 67 in the first tournament of the season, still in 2024, in Australia, and finished in the top 25. Not bad omens.
– Cantero was very sharp today with the putter. He can say he had an ‘easy’ golf day, if such a concept exists in this sport. He didn’t struggle to make pars. The longest putt he made to avoid a bogey was two metres. The rest were given. He hit the ball well. He is not a player who feels particularly comfortable hitting irons from the tee, but he has embraced the strategy and committed to it. A ten for attitude. Reward for the gentleman in the form of a great result.
– The rest of the Spaniards in the afternoon did not have a great start. Albert Boneta (PAR) and Jorge Campillo (PAR) are just inside the cut, while the others will have to fight this Friday: Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (+1), Alex del Rey (+2), Nacho Elvira (+2), and Joel Moscatel (+5).
– There are only two players from the top 100 in the world playing this week in Italy. They are Shaun Norris (-1) and Kristoffer Reitan (+1). The Norwegian has salvaged the day in tough conditions. He has been getting into one problem after another, but he has at least given himself a good chance to play all four days.
