SINGAPORE — Great things were expected of Matteo Manassero when the Italian announced himself as one of golf's great prospects by winning the 2010 Castello Masters as a 17-year-old just months after turning professional. Two years on, the Italian ended a frustrating spell of results with a thrilling playoff victory over Louis Oosthuizen at the Singapore Open Sunday to put himself back on track for a swift rise to the top with his third professional victory. “It has been an extremely long day, the adrenaline kept me going and the playoff was just a great honor to play with Louis,” Manassero told reporters after eagling the third extra hole to claim the $6 million co-sanctioned event. The first two days of the $6 million co-sanctioned event were dampened by lengthy storm delays but with the sun out on the Sentosa Golf Club, the tournament reached a gripping climax over the final two rounds. As an impressive Manassero threatened to run away with the event on a day when he ended up playing 36 holes, the 2010 Open Championship winner Oosthuizen emerged from the pack and could and should have won the tournament in the playoff. The duo birdied the par-five 18th in regulation to finish locked on 13-under 271 and after they repeated the feat on the first extra hole, Oosthuizen had a four-foot birdie putt to claim the title on the next but his nervous effort horseshoed around the back of the cup. Both men found the fairway on their third attempt at deciding a winner, with the South African's approach landing short and left of the flag before Manassero ripped a beauty that rolled down off a slope to within 10 feet of the hole. Oosthuizen's eagle putt curled above the hole and his opponent made no mistake, picking up a third European Tour event before his 20th birthday with an assured putt into the middle of the cup that was met with a joyous roar from the packed gallery. “It has been an extremely long day, the adrenaline kept me going and the playoff was just a great honor to play with Louis,” Manassero told reporters. Almost forgotten in the mayhem was a brilliant final round six-under 65 from world No. 1 Rory McIlroy that lifted the Briton up to third place on 10-under and secured the money list crowns in both Europe and the United States. Halfway leader Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, who closed with a 68, finished a shot further back, and three-time Singapore Open champion Adam Scott of Australia was tied for fifth alongside Italy's Francesco Molinari on eight-under 276. — Reuters
