Italian golfing stallion Matteo Manassero send former World No. 1 Luke Donald packing and back to his Chicago home with a 5 & 4 thumping on day one of the WGC Accenture Match-Play Championship.

The 20-year old Calllaway staff player was never headed after winning the first hole and then going 3 up after six holes and then 5 up after 10 holes.

Matteo Manassero pictured last week in St. Andrews ahead of sending former World No. 1 Luke Donald packing in Arizona.

It is Manassero’s second appearance in the $US 9m event and he will now face reigning PGA champion Jason Duffner in round two after Duffner defeated fellow American 1 up at the 19th hole.

Fellow European Thomas Björn avenged his 2012 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship first round defeat to Francesco Molinari.

The Dane was knocked out by Italy’s Molinari at the 20th hole two years ago, but this time progressed 2 and 1 against the same opponent to reach round two for only the second time in ten years.

“It’s not very nice to come into this tournament and play your good friends in the first round, but that happens,” said Race to Dubai leader Björn, who now goes on to face American Jordan Spieth.

“It was obviously you go out and play golf and try to win the match you play in.

“I played nice today. I was bit rusty as I’ve been sick for a couple weeks. Coming in, I didn’t have really good preparation, so it was a bit rusty early on.

“There was a little bit of trying to get over the line in the end, but I got it done. I played some really good stuff in the middle there.

“Francesco never goes away – that’s one thing you have got to give him. He stuck in there; every time I got to two up, he would have a great shot on the hole after and got himself back to one, so it was a tight match and it could have swung both ways. He probably didn’t putt as well as he would have liked to.”