PLAY-OFF WINNER MANASSERO IS YOUNGEST PGA CHAMPION AT 20

Matteo Manassesro, only 20, winner of PGA Championship at Wentworth

 Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

WENTWORTH REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

BY SARAH GWYNN

Matteo Manassero became the youngest BMW PGA Championship winner in history at the age of 20 after a thrilling play-off victory at Wentworth Club.
The Italian finished level with 2010 winner Simon Khan and Scotland’s Marc Warren on ten under par after 72 holes, but after Warren exited at the first play-off hole, having driven into trees down the right, the two remaining players looked inseparable.
It was the fourth additional trip down the 18th that eventually split Manassero and Khan – the latter finding water with his second while Manassero fired a brilliant approach to 20 feet and two-putted for birdie. 

“It's been an amazing week,” said Manassero, the 2009 British Amateur Champion. “I've always felt something really special about this place and this tournament.  Everything has come together this week, and I managed to play well and stay in contention after a tough day on Friday, and pull it off in this play-off. 

“To be honest, I was less tense (in the play-off) than walking the last few holes, because you know you've done what you could for 72 holes.  The rest is just about trying to hit good, regular shots, just try to make it as easy as possible and see what the other guys do.

"I managed to hit four good tee shots, and on a hole like 18 it's probably the most important.

“I'm really excited.  Besides this victory, you get all of these achievements that are amazing, but right now, I'm just thinking of winning the BMW PGA Championship.”
Manassero's financial reward for the biggest win of his career was 791,660 Euros.

Lee Westwood looked to be marching towards the title, but the Englishman dropped four shots in four holes on the back nine to slip away, but there was better fortune for veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, who finished birdie-eagle in his 600th European Tour event to take a share of fourth spot.
Manassero  is the youngest player to win the PGA title since Bernard Gallacher, who was 20 years and 97 days when he won it back in 1969. The rising star from Verona beats that by 60 days.

SCOTSWATCH: When Westwood "blew up" Marc Warren took up the running but could not maintain the lead to the finish. Still, a great effort by the Scot who earned 412,560 Euros. There were two Scots in the top 10 with Richie Ramsay finishing joint ninth on 281 - only three shots away from being in the play-off. His Saturday-Sunday rounds of 66-69 saw him climb up within striking distance of the leaders. Pity there was not a fifth round! Richie earned 219,430 Euros.

David Drysdale also had good weekend scores of 69-70 for a 283 total, which earned him 55,385 Euros. Chris Doak (28,957 Euros) finished on 287 and Colin Montgomerie (24,,325 Euros) on 288.

Hard luck for last year's Tartan Tour supremo Greig Hutcheon from Banchory. Having survived the pressure to make the cut, he then gave himself a chance of earning a big cheque when he shot five-under-par 67 on Saturday.

But the "magic" disappeared over the closing round which cost Greig 79 blows. Still, he made the cut, which is more than Messrs McIlroy, McDowell and Donald could claim. 
Greig's cheque for 11,638 Euros was a lot more than he can win in Scotland for one tournament.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)

278 M Manassero (Ita) 69 71 69 69, S Khan (Eng) 69 72 71 66, M Warren (Sco) 69 70 70 69 (Manassero won sudden death play-off)

279 M Jiménez (Esp) 76 69 67 67, A Cañizares  (Esp) 69 70 68 72,

280 E Els (RSA) 72 69 72 67, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 69 71 69, J Kingston (RSA) 66 77 69 68

281 R Ramsay  (Sco) 71 75 66 69, L Westwood (Eng) 70 71 67 73, F Molinari (Ita) 70 68 73 70

282 N Fasth (Swe) 70 71 72 69, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 73 71 70 68, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 73 67 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 73 70 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 67 76 70 69, P Uihlein  (USA) 72 73 68 69, S Lowry  (Irl) 70 71 69 72

283 R Bland (Eng) 71 71 69 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 71 73 69 70, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 71 69 72, S Garcia  (Esp) 72 71 68 72, G Havret  (Fra) 70 71 71 71

284 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 72 70 73 69, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 71 73 69, F Zanotti (Par) 71 75 70 68, G Coetzee (RSA) 69 70 75 70, P Price (Wal) 73 69 70 72, M Foster (Eng) 70 69 72 73, B Grace  (RSA) 71 73 71 69, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 71 74 68 71

285 A Noren  (Swe) 74 71 71 69, D Willett  (Eng) 73 72 73 67, R Fisher (Eng) 72 73 68 72, D Clarke (Nir) 74 70 72 69, A Quiros  (Esp) 70 73 69 73

286 L Slattery (Eng) 71 71 69 75, A Hansen (Den) 70 74 73 69, J Donaldson (Wal) 71 75 73 67

287 C Doak (Sco) 74 71 72 70, M Siem  (Ger) 75 71 71 70, T Björn (Den) 69 74 75 69, T Jaidee (Tha) 74 71 72 70, G Storm  (Eng) 73 71 69 74

288 G Mulroy (RSA) 74 71 72 71, J Van Zyl (RSA) 75 69 73 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 74 72 70 72, O Fisher  (Eng) 70 75 73 70, C Montgomerie  (Sco) 71 75 72 70

289 M Kaymer (Ger) 70 74 73 72, J Rose (Eng) 72 74 69 74, T Levet (Fra) 71 75 70 73, P McGinley (Irl) 71 75 70 73, J Kruger (RSA) 71 74 72 72, W Liang (Chn) 75 68 72 74, R Santos  (Por) 73 72 76 68

290 P Lawrie (Irl) 74 72 72 72, R Sterne  (RSA) 71 74 71 74

291 D McGrane (Irl) 72 73 72 74, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 71 74 73 73, J Sandelin (Swe) 76 69 74 72

292 B Rumford (Aus) 75 71 72 74, G Hutcheon (Sco) 72 74 67 79, A Tadini (Ita) 73 71 74 74, G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 68 75 74 75

293 J Levermore (Eng) 72 70 73 78

294 A Dodt (Aus) 75 71 73 75

295 J Quesne  (Fra) 71 75 78 71

296 J Olazábal (Esp) 75 71 78 72, S Drummond (Sco) 70 75 75 76, R Coles (Eng) 75 71 75 75
TO VIEW ALL THE PRIZE MONEY ALLOCATION 

CLICK HERE

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS