ROME — France's Adrien Saddier secured his maiden European Tour victory in dramatic fashion, overcoming a crowded leaderboard with a stunning back-nine charge to win the Italian Open on his 200th career start.
The 31-year-old, who had previously recorded just two top-10 finishes in nine seasons, carded a bogey-free 65 on Sunday at Adriatic Golf Club Cervia to finish at 21-under par, one stroke clear of Germany's Yannik Paul.
A Long-Awaited Breakthrough
Saddier's victory came after nearly a decade of grinding on the Challenge Tour and European Tour. His previous best result was a runner-up finish at the 2016 Open de Portugal, with his most recent top-10 coming at the 2022 Cazoo Open de France. "This means everything," an emotional Saddier said after his win. "After so many years, so many close calls, to finally get it done on my 200th start feels like destiny."
The Frenchman began the final round three shots behind 54-hole leader Sebastian Söderberg but made his move with five birdies in his first 11 holes. A pivotal moment came at the par-5 12th, where Saddier converted a 25-foot eagle putt to take the outright lead.
The Winning Stretch
Saddier's back-nine performance was clinic in precision and nerve:
- Birdie on 10 from 8 feet
- Eagle on 12 from 25 feet
- Crucial par save on 16 from 12 feet
- Closing birdie on 18 to seal victory
"That putt on 16 was probably the most important shot I've ever hit," Saddier admitted. "I knew if I missed that, the tournament could slip away. When it dropped, I felt this was finally my time."
Chasing Pack Falls Short
Several contenders had chances to catch Saddier down the stretch. Paul, who started the day tied with Saddier, birdied three of his last five holes but came up one stroke short. Söderberg's challenge faded with bogeys on 14 and 16, while England's Andy Sullivan missed a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 that would have forced a playoff.
The victory moves Saddier to 15th in the Race to Dubai standings and secures his playing privileges through 2026. Perhaps most importantly, it earns him a spot in next month's PGA Championship at Valhalla, his first career major championship appearance.
Career-Defining Moment
Saddier's journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. After turning professional in 2012, he spent four seasons on the Challenge Tour before earning his European Tour card in 2016. Injuries and inconsistent form saw him bounce between tours before finding stability in recent years.
"There were so many times I thought about giving up," Saddier revealed. "But my family, my team, they kept believing even when I didn't. This win is for them as much as it is for me."
What's Next
With his maiden victory secured, Saddier now sets his sights on bigger goals. The PGA Championship berth provides an unexpected opportunity, and his improved ranking should gain him entry into several premium European Tour events.
Tournament director Michele Biino praised the champion's performance: "Adrien's final round was simply magnificent. To shoot 65 under that pressure, on this course, shows the quality of champion we have in our winner."
As for Saddier, the new champion was already thinking about the future: "This isn't the end of the journey, it's just the beginning. Now that I've broken through, I want to see how far I can go."
The win marks the third French victory on the European Tour this season, following Matthieu Pavon's Spanish Open triumph and Romain Langasque's success at the Qatar Masters. It continues a strong period for French golf that includes Pavon's historic PGA Tour win at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year.
For Saddier, the 200th start proved magical. As he hoisted the trophy amid the Italian sunset, one thing was clear: persistence had finally paid off for the journeyman turned champion.
