Italian golfing stallion Matteo Manassero is on target to become the youngest-ever player to win on three different continents after remaining in contention for victory in the Valspar Championship in Florida.
Manassero added a one-under par 70 to his opening round of 69 to join reigning US Open champion, Justin Rose and American Pat Perez sharing the clubhouse lead on three-under par in the $US 5.7m event being played on the Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort.
The 20-year old Italian had already broken a number of amateur records before turning professional in 2010 including being the youngest-ever winner of the British Amateur Championship and then the youngest amateur to win the Silver Medal at the 2010 Open Championship.
Manassero then became the youngest winner on the European Tour when he captured the 2010 Castellon Masters at age 17 years and 188 days.
He then became the youngest to win two European Tour events and then also still the youngest to win three times with his victory in the 2012 Barclays Singapore Open.
Now the Verona-born golfer could eclipse the effort of Tiger Woods in winning a first PGA Tour title but in what would be Manassero’s fifth pro career victory on a third different continent.
Woods was also aged 20 when he won a first PGA Tour title but had turned 21 in winning the 1997 Asian Honda Classic in Thailand and then was aged 22 years old in winning on a third different continent in sealing success in the European Tour’s 1999 Deutsche Bank SAP Open – TPC of Europe title in Germany.
“I am very pleased with how I am playing, as this is my fourth week in a row playing in America, so it’s been a really nice trip,” said Manassero.
“I got into this week really trying to finish this U.S. stretch in the best possible way and my game is supporting me, it’s solid.
“I have played well the last two days and now I am trying to finish well.”
Manassero is no stranger to the Copperhead course having finished T20th three years ago where the then 17-year old made his regular PGA Tour event debut courtesy of a sponsor’s invitation.
“I was doing really well after two days with two 68s last time I was here, as well,” he said.
“I just like the golf as it suits my game.
“In fact, it reminds me of the golf courses I grew-up playing in Italy as it’s tree-lined with a bit of elevation like many of the courses back home especially in the north.
“So it is a golf course very much like I was so used to growing up back home, and where I never needed to hit the ball very high and just needed precision to hit the fairway and then get the ball pin high.
“Also after last week’s course at Doral playing here in Tampa it like comparing chalk with cheese as there is no similarity.
“So if last week suited me as a ‘2’ then this week has suited me as a ‘9’.
In stark contrast, former double Major winning John Daly crashed to last place in the field and putting three balls into the water and running up a ‘12’at the par four 16th on route to a score of 9- for a 22-over par tally.
It is the 48-year old Daly’s worst-ever score as a professional and one shot than a prior worst set during the 2008 Open Championship.
“It was just one of those days when nothing went right,” Daly said. “You hit it in the bunker, it buries. Hit it in the fairway, you’re in a divot. I even hit it in a divot in a bunker.”
