KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In yet another showcase of golf’s future, Italian teenager Matteo Manassero won the Malaysian Open on Sunday to capture his second European Tour title and upstage a remarkable recovery by Rory McIlroy.
Manassero, two days before his 18th birthday, began the back nine by holing his approach for eagle on the par-5 10th and making a birdie on the next hole to surge into the lead. He closed with a 4-under-par 68 for a one-shot victory over Gregory Bourdy of France.
McIlroy, a 21-year-old from Northern Ireland who lost a four-shot lead last week at Augusta National and shot 80 in the final round of the Masters, needed a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff with Manassero. The putt never had a chance, and McIlroy wound up three-putting for a bogey that gave him a 69 and third place.
McIlroy will move to No. 7 in the world, one spot behind Tiger Woods.
It capped a whirlwind week for McIlroy, who was celebrated in defeat for how graciously he handled his 43 on the back nine at the Masters. He flew from Augusta to Malaysia with Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, and even posted a photo on Twitter that showed him posing with the South African in his green jacket. “Glad one of us has a green jacket on!” said his tweet.
McIlroy had the 36-hole lead in Malaysia but lost ground during the 27-hole final Sunday caused by rain delays.
“Obviously, at this moment I’m pretty disappointed, but it was a good week,” McIlroy said.
Last year, Manassero became the youngest player to win a European Tour event when he won the Castello Masters. Now he’s the first player to win twice before turning 18.
