Champion Italian golfer Matteo Manassero admitted he was lucky not to suffer a more serious injury after tripping over and sliding flat on his body on the eve of the KLM Open.
The 20-year old Verona-born golfer, and winner of this year’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, had to again seek medical attention after posting a level par 70 on the first day of the premier Dutch event at Zandvoort.
BMW PGA winner Matteo Manassero falls heavily on the eve of the KLM Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Spain’s Miguel Jimenez heads the field after posting a six under par 64 on the Kennemer Golf Club course and the shortest on this year’s Race to Dubai schedule.
The 49-year old Malaga-based Jimenez is looking to capture a second KLM Open title nine years after winning a first and also on this week’s host course on the Dutch coastline.
Six players are tied in second place on five under par including PGA Tour based Australian Robert Allenby who last played at Zandvoort in 1994 and year Jimenez was triumphant.
Allenby had been forced to seek an invitation after failing to qualify for the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Series.
Manassero had been out dinner at a local Zandvoort restaurant on Wednesday night and in running back to his nearby hotel in driving rain tripped over a small bollard.
The current World No. 30 and highest-ranked player in the KLM field fell heavily tearing his trouser legs and grazing both knees as he slid spread eagle on a wet pavement.
Manaessero also bruised his elbows and badly scratched an expensive sponsor’s wrist watch.
He was observed noticeably limping at the end of his round that included two birdies and just as many bogeys.
“I was very lucky I didn’t injure myself any worst,” he said.
“My knees were hurting a lot towards the end of my round and that’s why I went straight to the physio van for more treatment.
“It was just one of those things. I was running to try and get out of the rain but didn’t see this object on the ground.
“I lost a bit of skin on my knees and I might have to get a new watch but I’m okay.”
And struggling with illness was Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts who is suffering an untimely throat infection in his first event in a month since competing in the PGA Championship.
