"Golf: Manassero Wins Malaysian Open Title
KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Italian teenager Matteo Manassero won the 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open title after a final round scores of four-under-par 68, Sunday.
Manassero, who will be celebrating his 18th birthday on Tuesday, accumulated four-days scores of 16-under to win his second European Tour title at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
His maiden European Tour title came at Castello Masters Costa Azahar in Valencia, Spain in October last year.
'The first win is a great achievement because you don't really know when it's going to come. It was a pretty tense moment but it helps me now, in managing this tournament much better. Every single win helps you growing as a player.
'Both are different victories...that one (Castello Masters), I won by full shots and this one (Malaysian Open), was very tight from the begining until the end,' said Manassero, who became the youngest player and first Italian to win the Malaysian Open title.
He is US$416,660 (about RM1.3 million) richer for the feat and received the prestigious trophy from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Manassero's goal of achieving the top-50 player in the world ranking was probably through the Malaysian Open win. As of April 10, he stood at 57th position.
'With this win, I've probably achieved it. That will make me happy the most, because it was a great achievement as after 11 months, I became a professional golfer.
'It was a great achievement for me and gives me a lot of confidence. I'm really proud with the achievement and the next level will be trying to win another championship to keep this momentum going,' said Manassero, adding that he would be celebrating the win and his birthday in a family dinner.
Following one shot behind Manassero was Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, just ahead of world No.9 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.
Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman was the top Asian Tour finisher at eighth place after he signed off with a 69 to finish seven shots behind the winner.
'After I birdied the last hole, the crowd was very supportive and they cheered me on. It felt like I won the tournament. Previously, many people didn't know about golf in Bangladesh and now, they can see me playing in such a big event and finishing in top-10,' said Siddikur.
World No.1 Martin Kaymer of Germany, who closed in with an even-par 72, settled in joint ninth position with Alejandro Canizares of Spain, with four-days total of 280.
Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa claimed a share of 11th position after a four-day total of 281, with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher.
Malaysia's Danny Chia, who was the lone survivor at this year's competition, settled for a tie at the 41st position with four other players. For his feat, Chia took home US414,750 (RM44,604).
'I thought I could have played much better but with the way I was hitting, I really couldn't do much. I putted pretty well to finish the tournament on one-under, so I can't complain,' said Chia, when met at the tournament's course.
After a fine running at this year's competition, New Zealand's Danny Lee has to accept a bitter decision made by the competition's marshall.
His challenge at this lucrative competition was disqualified because he had signed in the lowest score card. Before the decision was made, he was tied in 17th position.
