Adrien Saddier

Thirteen years on from his first appearance on the DP World Tour, Adrien Saddier marked his 200th start with his maiden victory at the Italian Open.

With it he put himself into his first major championship at Royal Portrush.

Two places were available as part of The Open Qualifying Series and with a brilliant back nine of 30 the 33-year-old overtook fellow Frenchman Martin Couvra to take the title by two.

“It's great - it's taken so much work to be able to do this,” he said. "I started the back nine really good and I just said 'stay in your own zone, just keep focused, make the putts' - and I did it.”

A winner on the Hotel Planner Tour in 2016 – that was achieved in Spain with an opening round of 61 and closing 63 – his previous best finishes on the main circuit were four third places.

They included the 2023 Barbasol Championship in America, but having made plans to return there he is Portrush-bound instead.

As an amateur he represented his country in the 2013 European team championships, helping them win the stroke play qualifying stage before losing to Scotland in the semi-finals.