For a brief period, it appeared that no one was eager to emerge victorious at the Italian Open.
Sean Crocker managed to reach a score of 10 under par on the back nine during Sunday’s round, but unfortunately, he stumbled with a bogey at No. 14 and proceeded to make pars for the remainder of the round, finishing at 9 under par.
Shubhankar Sharma also had a promising back nine, reaching 11 under par. However, his fortunes took a turn for the worse with double bogey at No. 14 and a subsequent bogey at No. 16, causing him to drop back to 8 under par.
Jannik De Bruyn also reached 11 under par on the back nine but encountered difficulties with bogeys at 14 and 18, ultimately concluding his round at 9 under.
Antoine Rozner initially reached an impressive 13 under par on the back nine, but unfortunately, his performance took a nosedive as he played his final six holes in five over par. Consequently, he did not play a significant role in the final stages of the tournament.
Marcel Siem also reached a score of 13 under par, only to falter with bogeys at holes 11, 14, 15, and 17. It seemed as though he, too, had let the coveted title slip away.
Meanwhile, Tom McKibbin, hailing from Northern Ireland, began the final round in the middle of the pack. However, he displayed a remarkable comeback with a Sunday score of 65, securing the clubhouse lead at 10 under par. While this was undoubtedly a commendable achievement, it seemed unlikely to be sufficient at the time. Several players were tied or ahead of him when he posted the score, and according to Dataolf, he had a mere 0.1 percent chance of winning.
However, the situation gradually changed, and then all at once. McKibbin observed from the clubhouse as his competitors faltered, one after another, in the closing holes. By the time Siem approached the 18th hole, just one shot behind, he was the sole contender with a chance to catch up to McKibbin, who had concluded his round three hours prior. Siem required a remarkable moment to force a playoff.
And he delivered.
Siem has always been known for his expressive demeanor on the golf course, and when he sank a 22-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, the tension and frustration of several hours dissipated. He erupted into an exuberant celebration, tossing his visor to the ground and shouting to the crowd.
Both Siem and McKibbin returned to the tee at the par-4 18th hole. While both had opportunities for birdie, McKibbin missed his chance, and Siem, once again, made his putt from 10 feet, ultimately concluding the tournament.
