First Sicilian Open will boost golf in Italy, says Rocca

COSTANTINO ROCCA hopes the inaugural Sicilian Open, which gets under way today, will help Italy to continue developing into a major force in world golf.

Colin Montgomerie, Simon Khan and Michael Campbell head the field for the tournament at the Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, which will the first European Tour event of the year to be played on European soil.

Rocca, first Italian to play in The Ryder Cup in 1993, will also be among the competitors — and the 54-year-old admits it was time Italy was able to boast another high-profile tournament.