Matteo Manassero Returns To Winning Ways At Challenge Tour Event
Manassero secured a one shot victory at the Copenhagen Challenge to claim his first win in three years
Matteo Manassero will be a name familiar to many, with the Italian excelling throughout the early stages of his career and expecting to go on to much fame and stardom.
However, after becoming the first teenager to win three times on the European Tour, as well as being the youngest ever winner of the BMW PGA Championship, the 30-year-old lost form badly, so-much-so, he dropped out of the World's top 1000 and even struggled to maintain Challenge Tour status in 2018.
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However, following a first victory in seven years at the 2020 Toscana Open on the Alps Tour, Manassero has found a little bit of form and, at the 2023 Copenhagen Challenge, the Italian secured his biggest victory in almost 10 years, claiming a one shot win at Royal Golf Club in Denmark.
Beginning the tournament with a three-over-par first round 75, Manassero battled back bravely with a 64 on Friday. Comfortably making the weekend, he then shot a one-under 71 to sit in tied second, but still six shots back of leader Matias Honkala.
Honkala, though, struggled over the final day and, combined with his three-over-par final round, and Manassero's six-under 66, a huge nine shot swing occurred to put the 30-year-old top.
Certainly, over the final nine holes, it was going to be tight affair, with Honkala and Casey Jarvis holding a share of the lead, and Manassero one shot behind. However, over the remaining holes, the Italian managed to fire a three-under total and, when Jarvis and Honkala struggled, it meant the title was Manassero's.
The victory came 10 years and two days after his BMW PGA Championship success, with Manassero being covered in water by his fellow players following his incredible success.
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Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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