Saddier wins maiden title at Italian Open on his 200th DP World Tour start

Adrien Saddier produced a back-nine birdie blitz at the Italian Open on Sunday to clinch his maiden DP World Tour title on his 200th appearance with a two-shot victory.

Third-round leader Martin Couvra had been in control for much of the day but five birdies on the closing stretch catapulted fellow Frenchman Saddier to the summit as he made a closing 66 to finish the tournament on 14 under par.

Saddier went into the final round just one stroke off the lead but found himself three back as he reached the turn after following up a birdie at the second with bogeys on the fourth and eighth.

He caught fire on the back nine, though, as birdies at the tenth, 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th saw him open up a commanding three-shot lead.

And the 33-year-old safely parred the final two holes to enter the winner's circle for the first time at this level on his landmark appearance.

Couvra finished alone in second on 12 under following his 69, while Scotland's Calum Hill and Englishman Dan Bradbury shared third place on ten under.

Saddier, who was unwell at the start of the European Swing, remarked earlier in the week that he was "back in full form", and he certainly showed that at Argentario Golf Club in round four.

With his playing partners Couvra and Eugenio Chacarra making good progress in the early stages, Saddier made a four-foot birdie on the second to remain within striking distance.

But his chances of winning seemed slim when he followed up a bogey on the fourth by dropping another shot at the par-three eighth to fall to nine under.

'JUST GRATEFUL'

Saddier came roaring back after the turn, however, slotting in his 13-foot birdie effort on the tenth before making it two in a row from 18 feet at the next.

A good par save from six feet on the 12th kept the momentum going and the moment of the day arrived at the 13th as Saddier's 22-foot birdie putt eventually dropped after the ball had clung to the edge of the hole for what seemed like an eternity.

That handed him a share of the lead on 12 under but he would soon hit the front on his own, sending his approach at the short 14th to two feet before converting the birdie putt to reach 13 under.

And there was a two-shot swing on the 16th as Saddier made a seven-foot birdie and watched Couvra surrender a bogey, handing the former a three-shot cushion.

He did not put a foot wrong at the last two holes, parring each of them to win by two and book his place at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush alongside Couvra, who now tops the European Swing Ranking.

An emotional Saddier said: "It's great. It's taken so much work to be able to do this. I'm just grateful.

"I started the back nine really good and I just said 'just stay in your own zone, just keep focused, make the putts". And I did it.

"Starting with the beginning, I have to thank my dad. Because he took the decision to bring me to golf when I was three.

"I have to thank my mum, who let me play golf. And of course my wife. It's great."