GOLF ITALIAN OPEN: GARETH MAYBIN, so close to winning just the seventh European Tour event of his career in December, was in a class of his own when the BMW Italian Open began in Turin yesterday.
A course record 64, seven under par, gave the 28-year-old from Belfast a three-stroke lead over Scot Richie Ramsay, French pair Raphael Jacquelin and Christian Cevaer and England’s Marcus Higley, while American John Daly would have been joint second as well but for two closing bogeys.
Maybin had an eight-foot putt to take the South African Open five months ago, but missed and then lost a play-off to Richard Sterne.
“I was very disappointed at the time – any time you’re beaten in a play-off you’re not going to be too chuffed,” said the Challenge Tour graduate.
“But I went home for Christmas and reflected on it. I looked at the names below me and a lot of them were highly-ranked.”
Among those Maybin finished ahead of were compatriot Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman.
After Ramsay had set the clubhouse target with a 67 – like Daly, he bogeyed the 17th and 18th – Maybin was still two behind when he turned in 34.
But he then followed birdies on the 10th and 12th with a 116-yard wedge into the cup for an eagle two at the next and another birdie came on the short 15th.
Even when he bogeyed two holes later he came straight back, hitting a five-iron to six feet on the demanding 507-yard par four last.
Maybin played the Royal Park lay-out on the Challenge Tour last season, but that was hardly a confidence-booster for him on his return. He missed the cut then.
Daly was annoyed at his finish, but after finishing last week’s Spanish Open with a 69 the 43-year-old, banned by the US Tour for six months in November after being thrown in jail to sober up, drew positives from starting his second event back with the same score.
“I love the way I’m hitting the ball – I had a lot of opportunities out there,” he said.
Ramsay shot to fame three years ago when he became the first Scot since 1898 to win the US Amateur crown.
As a result of that he partnered Phil Mickelson in the US Masters, Tiger Woods at the US Open and Pádraig Harrington in the opening two rounds of the British Open at Carnoustie – the week that changed the Dubliner’s life, of course.
“There’s a common factor in all of them – they’re lethal with the short game,” said the 25-year-old from Aberdeen.
“They’re not the straightest drivers in the world, but they know how to get the ball in the hole.
“Some of Mickelson’s shots were unbelievable and I was about to start applauding until I realised I was playing with him.
“It’s probably a bitter-sweet feeling,” he added.
“The way I played I felt I could have opened a gap, but my short game is a weakness.” He bogeyed the last two after going just over the green both times.
Compatriot Colin Montgomerie is seeking improvement in all areas at the moment.
While a 72 was nine strokes better than his second round last week it contained trips to the water for double bogeys both at the 197-yard 12th and 609-yard fifth.
Darren Clarke fared even worse with a 74 – he bogeyed the first four holes. Gary Murphy shot 70 with Jonatahn Caldwell and Michael McGeady on 71.
