Robert MacIntyre fired ten birdies and three bogeys on his way to a final round 64 to reach 14-under in the DS Automobiles Italian Open, forcing a playoff against overnight leader Matt Fitzpatrick.
The Scot went on to birdie the first extra hole while Englishman Fitzpatrick parred.
“At the start of the week I didn’t think this week was going to be the one – the style of golf course, the way it was playing,” said MacIntyre.
“But we worked on a few things on Tuesday and Wednesday and I felt so in control of my golf ball this week – my wedges, my long irons and even that hybrid that came into the bag last week.
“This means everything. I was down and out about two or three months ago. I didn’t know what I was doing, didn’t know where to go.
“But we spoke to the right people, started working with Simon Shanks and I’ve hit two of the perfect golf shots into the last there. There’s so much hard work gone into this.”
France’s Victor Perez closed with a 66 to finish third at 13-under followed by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy in fourth at 12-under after carding a 68.
England’s Aaron Rai (69) and Australia’s Lucas Herbert (68) tied for fifth at 11-under.
