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| Matteo Manassero of Italy holds the trophy after his victory at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. (AFP |
Italian teen sensation Matteo Manassero won the Malaysian Open by one shot from Frenchman Gregory Bourdy yesterday to seal his second EuItalian teen sensation Matteo Manassero won the Malaysian Open by one shot from Frenchman Gregory Bourdy yesterday to seal his second European Tour victory. ropean Tour victory.
Manassero, who turns 18 on Tuesday, shot a fourth round four-under-par 68 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to seal the win with a four-round total of 272.
There was no comeback for world number nine Rory McIlroy a week on from his last-round collapse at the US Masters.
The Northern Irishman battled bravely on the back nine to give himself a shot at victory but a bogey on the last put paid to his hopes of a playoff with Manassero and McIlroy finished third on 14-under 274.
Bourdy posted 67 for a 273 total, while US PGA Championship holder and world number one Martin Kaymer was eight shots back in a tie for ninth and Masters winner Charl Schwartzel a stroke behind in 11th.
“I really had a good day today. I hit good shots. I am overjoyed,” Manassero said.
Manassero completed his third round 67 on Sunday morning after bad light stopped play on Saturday, to enter the final round tied for the lead with Sweden’s Alexander Noren.
He needed two up and downs to save par on the eighth and ninth holes to turn in 35 before holing a nine iron approach shot for an eagle three at the par five 10th.
That gave the young star the lead over Bourdy and birdies on 11 and 14 helped seal the hard-fought win.
“I had to do two birdies to win by one shot. It was a surprise win after the Castello Masters 11 months ago,” he said.
Manassero received the winner’s cheque of $416,660 and became the Malaysian Open’s youngest winner and the first Italian to win the tournament.
He put his win down to his ability to keep a cool head despite coming under pressure from other players and the uncertain weather.
“All the players were doing well. It is not easy to concentrate and stay calm. Fortunately I stayed calm,” he said.
Manassero became the youngest ever winner on the European Tour when he took the Castello Masters in Spain last year and Sunday’s triumph means he is the third youngest on the major world tours to record more than one victory.
The win also propels Manassero into the top 35 in the world rankings and he paid tribute to his parents for allowing him to develop his talent.
“They brought me up very well as a person and a golfer. They never said no whenever I wanted to go to the course. They did not put pressure on me,” he said.
McIlroy, 21, came into the tournament off the back of a gruelling 30-hour journey from Augusta and said he was pleased with his performance despite the disappointing result.
“To shoot the scores that I did considering the travelling is a pretty good effort. I’m disappointed with the result but everything else was positive,” he said.
“I’m proud at how I picked myself up from last week and the way I came back on the back nine today.”
The heat and travelling took their toll on McIlroy, who looked tired on the last day, but he was full of praise for Manassero.
“Matteo is fantastic. He is a great talent. He turns 18 on Tuesday and to get two wins on the European Tour before your 18th birthday is pretty special,” he said.