Boxall Recalls 27-Years Ago Being Left Without A Logo Shirt In Winning Italian Open.

Former Italian Open winner Richard Boxall remembers vividly the occasion 27-years ago at this week’s host venue in Monza when all he had left to wear over the final round was a plain logo-free yellow shirt.

Boxall’s five-shot 1990 victory over Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal on the Milano Golf Club course was the now 56-year old Englishman’s only European Tour victory.

“Boxie” as he is more affectionately since swapped his golf clubs for a microphone to become one of the more-entertaining commentators on the SKY Sports TV coverage of the Tour.

Richard Boxall wearing a logo-free yellow shirt to victory in the 1990 Italian Open BUT check out the guy in the black shirt and jeans beside the TV cameraman … Yes, your author!

And while there is no shortage of SKY Sports logo attire for him to wear that was not the scenario back in 1990 for the then recently-turned 29-year old.

“It was the only shirt I had left to wear,” Boxall said.

“Then early into the last round I saw my sponsor in the crowd and he was pointing to his shirt, and no doubt wondering why I didn’t have a shirt with his company’s logo.

“In the end he was fine and while I was worried about making a mess of the last and losing, I played this 5-iron over a hanging branch to reach the edge of the green but very well short but then managed to putt up to just a couple of inches.”

In contrast, Boxall did have a logo on his shirt for all the golf world to see some 14 months later and during the third round of the 1991 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Boxall was only two strokes off the lead and playing alongside Colin Montgomerie and had been complaining of soreness in his left leg a few holes earlier but then in playing his tee shot on nine there was a loud noise like the sound of breaking a really dry twig, and with the English golfer collasping in much pain after suffering what was a stress fracture of his left leg.

Boxall was put on a stretcher and carried from the ninth hole to an ambulance that had been called.

Boxall was side-lined until February 1992 but in returning to competition the best finish he achieved over the next eight years was one top-three result and that was joint second in the 1994 Spanish Open.

He played his last European Tour event at the 2000 Italian Open.

 



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