Guido Migliozzi thrives in the lands of the Benelux. Three of his four victories on the DP World Tour have come from these parts: Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Well, you’re right, France is not strictly part of the Benelux, but we ask for an exception to fit the anecdote (the other came in Kenya). After all, it’s more or less in the same region. This Sunday’s victory was at the KLM Open, the fourth, on the The International course in Amsterdam. Two years after the third and five after the first two. What doesn’t fail in his career, for now, is that they have all come in a non-Ryder year.
Migliozzi took the victory in an exciting tournament finale, with many players involved in the battle for victory and a final three-way tie that the Italian resolved on the second hole. The truth is that The International has proven to be a fantastic venue for a DP World Tour tournament. The preparation has been excellent. The course gave birdies, but you had to go down the fairway. Bad shots were severely penalised. As it should be.
Precisely, a bad day from the tee left Saturday’s leader Mikko Korhonen out of contention very early, today 75 strokes. Also with a bad start on hole 16, Rasmus Hojgaard (-10) was knocked out. And from behind came players ready to join the party, like Andrea Pavan (-10), who shot a 65 this Sunday, or Tom McKibbin (-9), who also shot 65.
The first to dismiss Pavan’s result was Joe Dean (-11), the calm man. The Englishman doesn’t flinch. Working in a supermarket or as a nightclub bouncer in the last two years gives you enough character not to tremble when you take a one-meter putt to become the sole leader in the clubhouse.
It seemed that it could be good, but Marcus Kinhult and Migliozzi were determined to prolong the battle. The Swede with two very good birdies on 16 and 17, and the Italian finishing with his usual determination, with a great shot and a great birdie on 16 and a sensational birdie putt on 18 of about two and a half meters. Both thus reached Dean’s -11 and forced the playoff. Really, the first great opportunity to win was wasted by Kinhult. From the center of the fairway on 18, par 5, he was unable to make the birdie on hole 72.
In the first playoff attempt, always on 18, all three played the hole by the book. They hit the green in two and with two putts secured the birdie. You can’t ask for much more from a first playoff hole. The second was more eventful. Dean missed his tee shot to the rough and could no longer hit in two and Kinhult sent his second shot to the water. Migliozzi saw the sky open and he is not a man to let these opportunities slip away. He hit another great tee shot, hit the green in two and signed two putts to win, while his rivals made par. Really, Guido has made a suit of hole 18 this week. He has played it six times and made six birdies. Maximum effectiveness.
As for the Spaniards, Adrián Otaegui (-7) made it into the top 10 with a great final round of 67 strokes without bogeys. Great result for the golfer from San Sebastian who continues to climb steps in the Race to Dubai. In addition, Alex del Rey (-5) and Ángel Ayora (-5) finished in the top 25. Two good results from two players who are promise and reality of Spanish golf in equal parts. Much credit to Ayora, who makes cuts and finishes high with an ease uncharacteristic of his 19 years. Today he could even have finished higher if not for an accident on hole 8, par 5. He made a triple bogey after missing his tee shot to the bunker and getting into some trouble around the green. Two of the previous three days he made birdie. If we subtract those four strokes, he would have been in contention to win. Yes, with old-fashioned calculations, but they are very real.
In addition, Ángel Hidalgo (-4) said goodbye with a very good round of 67 strokes and a valuable top 30, Sebastián García Rodríguez (-2) did not have his best Sunday, just like Manu Elvira or Alfredo García Heredia. Rafa Cabrera Bello (-2) said goodbye with a round under par.
