Matteo Manassero defeats Charl Schwartzel in second round of Accenture Match Play
The 17-year-old Italian, Matteo Manassero defeated the veteran South African Charl Schwartzel in the second round of the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play on Thursday.
Schwartzel hammered a birdie in the opening holes, which gave him a lead over Manassero. Unfortunately, Schwartzel was unable to hold the lead, as Manassero reeled a pair of birdies in the following holes to respond to the early attack, eventually pushed
him ahead of his competitor. The Italian won two more holes and surged up to enjoy a score of 2-up until the 14th hole, after which his fellow competitor buried his birdie under his 44-feet long eagle at the 15th.
The same scenario repeated on the following hole, when Manassero drove his tee shot into the cactus plantation on the left side of the fairway. At this time, the teenager decided to put an end to the chase and hit a crisp iron-shot on the 17th
hole, which helped him earn a birdie and an entrance into the third round.
Manassero is the youngest player in the field and is currently considered as the favourite for the final two rounds. According to some, the rookie has the potential and the required prowess required to savour a victory. He defeated Steve Stricker in the
first round, which was least expected from him and then he beat the winner of the 2011 Joburg Open. Manassero’s driving sans accuracy and putter is working in his favour.
Manassero walked to the clubhouse as the winner and flashed a huge smile at the press, which had been waiting for him near the 18th green.
The Italian took off his cap for a bow and said, “Another great victory. We both played really well and I am very happy to be in the third round of this event. I tried to stay focused and just keep playing as I was playing, and I did it well. I'm really
confident because I'm driving the ball well, hitting the irons well.”
The young gun will face Luke Donald in the third round, as he is expecting a close battle with a competitor similar to Stricker.
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