TURIN: ended a nine-year wait and 209 events for a European Tour victory when he claimed the Italian Open title on Sunday. A closing five-under 67 packed with seven birdies around the turn, for a 21-under 267 total, left the 34-year-old Englishman a stroke better than Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and fellow Briton Gary Boyd.
By the time Rock began his round he had been overtaken by the charging Olesen who went out in just 29, six-under-par.The Dane set the target of 20-under by ramming home a 30ft birdie putt on the last for a round of 62 and Rock slipped four shots behind him with a bogey on the third in a nervy start. But Rock then got to grips with his task and a sixth birdie in seven holes from the fifth finally put him back on top of the leaderboard on his own at the 11th.He then dropped his second shot of the day but quickly repaired that damage with a birdie at 13. Rock’s 15-footer to save par on the 17th after driving deep in trees proved to be just as important as any of his birdies. Boyd’s 66 also took him to 20-under but a solid par on the 18th ensured Rock broke his tour duck. – Dailytimes
