The notion that all roads lead to Rome never has been more apt than this year.
In September, the Italian capital plays host to the Ryder Cup, and Europe’s golfers are as eager as pilgrims once were to reach the Eternal City. What very few observers might have predicted, even a year ago, is that Poland’s Adrian Meronk might be among the lucky dozen to complete that journey.
Consider this: From 1795 to 1918, his nation completely disappeared from the map of the world, but the golfing map? Poland never has been on it, nevermind deleted by invaders, and the 29-year-old from Wroclaw is on a one-man mission to transform that situation.
With victory in the DS Automobiles Italian Open on Sunday at Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone, Meronk made it three wins in less than 12 months on the DP World Tour, ascended to fourth in the Race to Dubai rankings and gave European captain Luke Donald more food for thought.
“I’m super excited about the Ryder Cup, and it is my goal for the year, but it’s not over yet. There’s a long way to go, but it will help.â€
Adrian Meronk
Meronk was the only golfer in the field to go sub-70 in all four rounds as he compiled a 13-under-par 271 that left him one shot clear of Frenchman Romain Langasque after a final day of anxious action.
Meronk had been relatively assured in claiming his maiden tour victory at last July’s Horizon Irish Open and was a dominant five-shot winner in December’s ISPS Handa Australian Open, but an awareness that victory in Italy would represent a hefty nudge in Donald’s direction appeared to prompt a few nerves.
Starting the final round tied for second with Langasque, one blow behind another Frenchman, Julien Guerrier, Meronk opened with a birdie before chipping in at the second to save par.
It was a sign of things to come. He is an impressively long and straight driver of the ball – a key asset at Marco Simone – but his approaches were errant, sometimes wildly so. Fortunately, his short game was mostly magnificent, making nine up-and-downs for par or birdie from 12 attempts.
And on the homestretch, he held firm. His drive at the short, par-4 16th was tactically smarter than the two French efforts and executed to perfection: he made birdie from just short of the green after hitting 3-wood; they both took driver and found trouble.
Another poor iron shot at the par-3 17th left Meronk out of position before he drained a 15-foot putt for par. “Huge, huge,†he gasped afterwards. “The chip was almost impossible, but the putt made up for it.â€
Two powerful blows to the 597-yard par-5 last hole set up a birdie opportunity that he didn’t waste, and which, ultimately, he needed to take for the margin of victory.
“Such a relief because it was a tough day,†he said with a sigh. “I didn’t play as good tee-to-green as I did earlier in the week, but I scrambled well. I’m very proud and very happy.â€
Of his hopes of a return ticket to Rome, he was cautious but encouraged. “I’m super excited about the Ryder Cup, and it is my goal for the year, but it’s not over yet. There’s a long way to go, but it will help.â€
Among the other leading contenders for a spot in Donald’s team, Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard finished tied fifth, his twin brother Rasmus T47th and France’s Victor Perez tied ninth. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre had to withdraw after round one with a back strain but took to Twitter to report it was “nothing too serious†and that he expects to play the PGA Championship next week.
Matt Cooper
