Matteo Manassero Becomes Youngest European Tour Winner
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 24, 2010 11:46 AM EDT
in Pro Golf
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It was a battle early in the round for the young Italian phenom, but Matteo Manassero made winning on the European Tour look easy on the back nine in Castello Masters. Winning clear by four shots, Manassero easily becomes the youngest player to win in the history of the European Tour at 17 years, 188 days. He takes over the distinction from Danny Lee, the Kiwi who won as an amateur last year.
The 17-year-old trailed Gary Boyd by two strokes through 54 holes. Through the opening nine holes, Manassero gained a stroke on Boyd with two birdies against a bogey. Boyd went out in even par.
On the back nine, though, Manassero put on his rally cap in the middle of the nine to take control of the tournament. With consecutive birdies at 13, 14, and 15, the Italian gained a share of the lead. He then took it outright when Boyd bogeyed the 15th.
Pressing the issue, Boyd put his ball in the water at the 16th, leading to a double bogey sandwich. Manassero was four clear at that point, needing only pars to finish off his first professional win. He had a look at birdie on 17 to extend the lead further, but was unable to make the seven footer.
No matter. Manassero was cruising to a win. Since turning pro after being low amateur and youngest ever to make the 36 hole cut at the Masters, Manassero has had modest success. Several finishes in the twenties buoyed a decent year for the young player, but a third place finish at the Omega European Masters - won by Miguel Angel Jimenez - gave him a taste of the professional chase.
Curiously enough, a countryman of Jimenez - Pablo Martin - turned heads in neighboring Portugal just three years ago when he became the first amateur to win on the European Tour.
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Very exciting last round
Apart from not being the longest hitter in town (which may come), he seems to have all parts of the game. Very calm with it. What a charming young man too.
Was paired with Tom Watson
and was low amateur at Turnberry last year. Seems to have a good head on young shoulders. Fantastic for golf and another example of the changing of the gaurd.
Good for him. I didn’t get to see the end of the broadcast today. Sounds like he played some great golf to build that lead.
What does a past win by Jimenez have to do with Pablo Martin three years ago…and then Manassero ? Should Rickie Fowler be in there, too, since he and Martin both went to Oklahoma State ? Is Anthony Kim a linchpin to this win for Mannassero ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I watched pretty much all of this last night. What impressed me most about the young man was his attitude. He missed a kick in on, I think it was 13 and made bogey. He walked off the green with a grin on his face, albeit, a sheepish grin, after falling two back of the then leader. He then birdied the next three. That shows a player with no fear and a “don’t look back” attitude and that’s what you need to be a great player. He’s certainly starting the right way and at the age of 17, he’s got it all in front of him.
Chip...your going to have to make
sure to let us know when he invites you to play golf with him….If ya don’t, Wendy is jist goona die….It’s all due to age…He hasn’t learned how to lose yet….yup, I said lose….Kids think their going to win every time they tee it up….hasn’t had is mental side bruised by a few loses yet….Good for the Kid…I hope all the young guns go for broke in 2K11…sure will be interesting to watch….Hey Chip…was that ur phone ringing ? hear that ? well, answer the dammm phone…STUB
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