Meronk Makes ‘Stable Assertion’ for Ryder Cup at Italian Open

That’s simply what Adrian Meronk has been dreaming about, and the Polish golfer’s Ryder Cup ambitions are beginning to seem like they may turn out to be a actuality after he received the Italian Open on Sunday lower than 5 months earlier than the game’s largest crew occasion is held on the identical course.

“I believe that’s a strong assertion, a strong brick into the wall,” Meronk stated. “However it’s not over but. I do know that. … I’ll maintain pushing, maintain doing what I can to get on the crew. However I believe that ought to assist a bit bit.”

Meronk completed at 13-under general with a 2-under 69 for a one-stroke victory over Romain Langasque, with third-round chief Julien Guerrier three strokes behind in third.

It’s not the primary time that Meronk has carried out properly at Marco Simone, having completed in a tie for second behind Nicolai Hojgaard on the 2021 Italian Open. He additionally confirmed his crew credentials when he holed a 25-foot putt at No. 18 to say the clinching level for Continental Europe on the Hero Cup match-play occasion in January.

“I needed to play properly in entrance of Luke and to win the event is simply such a reduction,” Meronk stated. “I noticed (Donald) this morning within the locker room. He stated, ‘Preserve it going. Good luck.’ So good, encouraging phrases from him.”

The victory — his third on the European tour — will transfer the 6-foot-5 (1.97-meter) Meronk as much as fourth within the Race to Dubai standings.

Afterward, Donald tweeted that it was a “excellent win,” including that Meronk displayed “some strong golf performed all week and got here up with the precise photographs when he wanted them most.

“Beginning to make profitable a behavior. Properly executed Adrian,” Donald concluded.

Meronk hit his 3-wood to only in entrance of the inexperienced on the drivable par-4 sixteenth to arrange a birdie that gave him a one-stroke lead. Then he received up and down on the tough par-3 seventeenth after hitting his tee shot into the tough proper of the inexperienced.

On 18, Meronk sunk a 7-foot downhill birdie putt, which just about sealed it with Langasque driving into the excessive grass proper of the green within the last pairing behind him.

“It simply fits my recreation,” Meronk stated of the course. “It’s important to watch out off the tee. Fairways are essential right here, as a result of if you happen to miss it, then it will get robust. This week my quick recreation was my massive benefit. Saved so many photographs from tough positions. … That makes the sport a lot simpler once you’re not enjoying your finest.”

Hojgaard additionally once more showcased his talents at Marco Simone, ending with a 6-under 65 to complete in a tie for fifth, six strokes behind Meronk.

From Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Marco Simone will turn out to be the third venue in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup after Valderrama in Spain (1997) and Le Golf Nationwide in France (2018).

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