JAMES KINGSTON
The South African has been dominant at San Domenico, winning the title here in 2021 and 2023. He clearly loves playing in Italy in general, as he was also the runner-up when this event was played at Argentario in 2022 as he went on to top the MCB Road to Mauritius that year. He’s had a tough summer after a good start to the season, so he’ll be hoping a visit to his most productive hunting ground can be the catalyst for a strong finish.
“It’s a beautiful golf course,” said the man who shot a scintillating closing round of 61 to win from seven shots back last year. “Obviously when the wind blows, that’s its defence. A lot of these olive trees sometimes get my attention away from the golf, as I love looking at beautiful trees. It’s just one of those golf courses that I enjoy playing. It’s a great spot and the weather is always good here, so it makes for a great tournament.
“The challenge is that there are a lot of holes where you feel like you can take them on and try and overpower it, but the emphasis is still on hitting the fairway and putting it in play so you can create that opportunity to try and knock it close with your irons. You can’t get ahead of yourself here because sometimes it’s easy to put a score in your head and make a run for it, like I’ve done in the past. But that’s part of my challenge this week, to try and play golf like I’ve never played here before. Play it hole-for-hole, shot-by-shot, and see what the outcome brings.
“I’ve never won three times at the same venue. Part of my challenge is to put myself in a position going into the final round to do the three-peat. But I’ve got to start out playing golf the way I normally do to try and put myself in that position.”
ADILSON DA SILVA
The MCB Road to Mauritius number one has two wins, two runners-up finishes and a tied-3rd to his name this season. He’s rarely outside the top-10 and he’ll take confidence from a tied-2nd finish – alongside regular rival Peter Baker – in last year’s Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open. Another good result here would be an important step towards finishing the season on top of the pile after finishing 2nd on the season-long Order of Merit the last two years, behind Kingston in 2022 and Baker in 2023. He’s raring to go for the final four events of 2024.
“It was nice to spend some time with the family in the weeks off and then you get hungry to play again,” said the Brazilian, who’s based in South Africa. “I’ve been practicing quite a lot the last week and it feels good to be here again.”
That break came after four events in successive weeks, starting with the HSBC India Legends Championship in late August, that saw him climb to the summit of the Order of Merit: “India took a lot out of me with the heat (tied-9th), so I took a bit of a knock there. Then the next week in France was pleasant (tied-22nd), and Spain (win) and Germany (tied-2nd) after that were dream weeks. Somehow, I managed to get my mind back into the game and enjoy it and have fun. Sometimes you’re trying to fight it, and it doesn’t come. It’s a crazy game. I was really happy with those last two tournaments.
“This course is going to compensate everyone – I don’t think it suits a long hitter or short hitter more. The greens are looking good, and the weather looks good the whole week. You have to stay in the present, because it’s a strong field. Keep calm and patient.”
DAVID SHACKLADY
The three-time Legends Tour winner needs a big result to improve on his 74th position on the MCB Road to Mauritius after a season that’s been disrupted by injury. But there’s no better place for him to find form than San Domenico after finishing tied-3rd and 5th here in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
“I wish I knew why I’ve played well here,” said the 57-year-old. “The first time I came here I finished in 3rdplace, so the course obviously suits my eye and once you go back to a place you’ve played well at you have good memories. That’s a big thing if you can draw on things you’ve done in the past. I don’t think there’s any rhyme or reason to it for me here. Horses for courses happens so often on all tours. People seem to pop up again where they’ve had a good week in the past, and some players play well year-in and year-out on the same course. I think if it suits your eye that’s a massive thing because it takes part of the worry out of it. Clearly that’s the case for myself here.”
He’s feeling pragmatic about his situation going into the final stretch of the season: “I’m not trying to put any pressure on myself now. I didn’t play until the Senior Open at Carnoustie and I’ve been fighting the knee injury I picked up at Qualifying School, which has definitely been a hindrance. It would have been nice to play earlier, but I’ve just had to wait and bide my time. I’m playing okay. The last two or three events I’ve been up there and faded off a little, but this is a great place to come back somewhere you’ve done well, so I’m looking forward to it.
“Q School (for next year) looks inevitable for me, I think. If it happens, it happens, and you go and embrace it. But this week is this week, so why not try to win this week?”
