Italian Open 2021 R1
September 02-05
Marco Simone GC, Rome, Italy
€3,000,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Sweden's Henrik Stenson continues his recent run of good form with a bogey-free 64 to take a share of the opening lead of the DS Automobiles Italian Open, strengthening his case for making the European Ryder Cup team.

Italian Open 2021 R1

"Once again I think I played a good round of golf. I don’t want to make any mistakes in terms of missing fairways and greens, but the few times I did I managed to keep a clean card and made some lovely putts to keep it tidy, so very happy with that.

"More than anything I feel like I am in a good frame of mind to play golf and to try and get the best score out of my game.

"There is still more to wish for, but we've got to take the positives and keep on working on the rest."

Italian Open 2021 R1

Australin Min Woo Lee's round was marred by a single bogey but he produced eight birdies to take his share of the lead as did Finland's Kalle Samooja.

"There was some good golf today," said Samooja. "Comparing to last week, I was really struggling with everything and today I wasn’t struggling with anything, so it was a nice morning walk.

Italian Open 2021 R1

"I was missing everything last week with the putter and the driver. I had a few good practice days, and this course seems nice, and the greens are pure.

"You need to play some good golf here, hit some good shots to go low and that’s what I managed to do today."

Italian Open 2021 R1

Home favourite Edoardo Molinari is tied in fourth place at 6-under having shot a hole-in-one at the par-3 7th as well as six birdies and two bogeys.

Tied alongside him are England's Eddie Pepperell and Australian Scott Hend.

"I hit a lot of good iron shots and I holed a couple of putts as well, strange round really," said Pepperell. "I didn't feel too comfortable off the tee, a bizarre shot on the last which was a bit of a shame, you know I am working with a new coach , and I am trying to turn my year and arguably my career around a little bit, so this is a good step forward."

Italian Open 2021 R1