Matteo Manassero becomes youngest winner of BMW PGA Championship – Golf news
Matteo Manassero became the youngest winner of the BMW PGA Championship, after recording a dramatic win at the Wentworth Club, on Sunday, May 26, 2013.
Manassero, along with Simon Khan and Marc Warren entered into the sudden death playoffs, after carding a 10-under par tournament score.
The Italian star, at the age of 20 years and 37 days, then took home the title after recording a birdie putt on the fourth extra hole in the playoffs.
Talking to the European Tour’s official website, he said that he himself was shocked and excited after recording an amazing victory.
“I feel unbelievable, really emotional,” said Manassero. “It's been an amazing week. I have always felt something really special about this place and this tournament. Everything has come together this week. I managed to play well and managed to stay in contention
after a tough day on Friday and pulled it off with this play-off. I am the happiest man in the world right now.”
Manassero started his final round campaign two strokes behind the overnight leader Alejandro Cañizares. After recording four birdies against a lone bogey on the front nine of the course, he surged to the top of the leaderboard, and shared the lead with Khan.
Warren, in the meantime, also made a late charge by recording birdie putts on each of the first four holes that he played on the back nine of the course, to join Khan and Manassero in the playoffs.
On the first extra hole, Warren got eliminated, courtesy of his shot into the trees. On the second and the third extra hole, Khan and Manassero squared their scores by each posting par and birdie putt, respectively.
The fourth extra hole witnessed Manassero draining another birdie putt, while Khan has to suffer a bogey after his shot found the water hazard present on the 18th hole.
“I was less tense in the play-off than walking the last few holes because you have done all you can in 72 holes and the rest is about trying to hit good normal shots,” Manassero said.
The victory in the European Tour’s flagship event also allowed the Italian star to pocket €791,660 prize money.
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