ITALIAN teenager Matteo Manassero, who only turned professional less than a year ago, earned a US$416,660 birthday present after becoming the youngest ever golfer to win the Malaysian Open title at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.
Manassero, who will be 18-years-old tomorrow, started the celebrations early as a closing four-under 68 gave him a total of 16-under 272 and it saw off challenges from Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy.
The dashing Italian had a crucial eagle on the 10th hole to thank for his one-stroke win over Bourdy, who battled to a five-under 67.
McIlroy, the world No. 9, battled magnificently on the back nine to give himself a chance to win the title but failed to find the crucial birdie at the last hole to force a playoff with Manassero and settled for a three-under 69 for third place on 274.
The leaders had 27 holes to play on the final day after six hours of weather delays earlier in the week, with McIlroy immediately extending his two-shot overnight advantage to three with a birdie at the par-five 10th.
But the 21-year-old McIlroy was passed by Manassero and Alexander Noren of Sweden before the end of the third round after dropping two shots at the short 15th.
Manassero, on the other hand, birdied both par threes on the back nine for a five-under 67 that left him 12-under with one round to go alongside Noren.
In the final round, Manassero completed the first nine holes on 35 but his game lifted with the eagle on the 10th.
Two birdies more and a lone bogey ensured Manassero’s place in history as he eclipsed Noh Seung-yul of South Korea as the youngest champion. Seung-yul won the title last year at 19.
And Manassero was beaming with pride as he collected the trophy and winning cheque from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Manassero will also break into the world top 50 for the first time with the win as the Maybank Malaysian Open this year was accorded the highest ranking points due to the elite field.
The winner gets 40 points and yesterday was also Manassero’s second European Tour title in his young career.
Manassero was the youngest winner in European Tour history when he won the Castello Masters in Valencia last year.
“It’s fantastic. To have another title two days before my 18th birthday, it’s a great achievement,” he said.
He felt the eagle on the 10th was the turning point as he started to pull his game strongly.
“Two great up and downs from the bunker and then holing a nine iron on the 10th (for eagle) was maybe the turning point and made me think of the possibility of winning,” added the European Rookie of the Year.
“It was not easy. It was tough. The course is really tight and all the players were doing good and playing well.
“It’s just not easy to concentrate, especially to stay calm. I managed quite well. Fortunately, I ended up like this. I’m happy to get my second title after 11 months as a pro.”
On how he planned to celebrate his birthday tomorrow, Manassero said that he would return to Verona for a gathering with his family and close friends.
“I will also be looking at altering my playing schedule now that I may be inside the world top 50,” he said.
“I am just looking at a few Majors and the TPC (The Players Championship) right now. Things will definitely change.”
Final round scores
272: Matteo Manassero (Ita) 66-71-67-68.
273: Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 71-69-66-67.
274: Rory McIlroy (Nir) 69-64-72-69.
275: Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa) 69-70-69-67, Alexander Noren (Swe) 64-69-71-71.
276: Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 70-70-66-70.
278: Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-64-76-68.
279: Siddikur Rahman (Ban) 68-71-71-69.
280: Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69-72-68-71, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 70-71-67-72.
281: Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 67-70-72-72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 73-71-67-70.
282: Robert Rock (Eng) 70-71-70-71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 71-69-71-71, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 73-70-72-67, James Morrison (Eng) 69-71-70-72.
283: Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73-71-68-71, Soren Hansen (Den) 70-72-72-69, Joost Luiten (Ned) 72-69-71-71, Jason Knutzon (Usa) 70-71-71-71, Baek Seuk-hyun (Kor) 70-73-70-70, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 70-70-72-71, Daniel Gaunt (Eng) 69-69-71-74, Danny Lee (Nzl) 71-67-70-75, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69-68-72-74.
284: Kodai Ichihara (Jpn) 71-71-74-68, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 70-71-73-70, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70-70-71-73, Tim Stewart (Aus) 73-71-70-69, Kenichi Kuboya (Jpn) 74-70-65-74, Mark Brown (Nzl) 73-71-70-69.
285: Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 68-73-71-73, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 69-73-72-71, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71-73-69-72.
286: Chan Yih-shin (Tpe) 70-74-73-69, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 73-69-71-73, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn) 71-69-71-75, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 73-67-70-76, Paul Waring (Rsa) 71-69-70-76, George Coetzee (Aus) 73-71-74-68.
287: Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 74-68-69-76, James Kingston (Rsa) 71-71-71-74, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72-68-73-74, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 71-72-69-75, Danny Chia (Mas) 71-73-67-76.
288: Marcus Both (Aus) 71-70-72-75, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67-76-69-76, Hwang Inn-choon (Kor) 72-71-65-80, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 71-72-69-76, Gareth Maybin (Nir) 73-71-74-70, Pablo Martin (Spa) 73-65-82-68.
289: Rhys Davies (Wal) 72-70-70-77, Graeme Storm (Eng) 71-70-75-73, Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 75-68-74-72, Tano Goya (Arg) 72-71-72-74, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 71-72-75-71; David Horsey (Eng) 72-72-71-74.
290: Darren Beck (Eng) 67-71-76-76, Lin Wen-tang (Tpe) 70-72-75-73, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 75-68-75-72.
291: Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 71-72-72-76, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 69-74-74-74, Udorn Duangdecha (Tha) 73-70-76-72.
292: Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 72-71-74-75, Liang Wenchong (Chn) 70-69-75-78.
293: John Parry (Eng) 74-68-74-77, Scott Barr (Aus) 69-73-74-77, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 69-73-74-77, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 73-70-73-77, Gavin Flint (Aus) 71-73-73-76.
294: Kwanchai Tannin (Tha) 69-72-74-79.
295: Louis Ooosthuizen (Rsa) 69-75-76-75.
296: Peter Karmis (Rsa) 73-71-77-75, David Drysdale (Sco) 69-72-79-76.
Link : http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/4/18/sports/8502549&sec=sports
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