McGuigan calls the shots for winner Manny

YOUNG Italian golfer Matteo Manassero, with Coleraine caddy Ryan McGuigan calling the shots, has become the youngest winner on the European Tour in capturing the Castellon Masters in Spain.

Manassero or Manny as he is nick-named, breezed past his rivals to win by four shots with a final round 67 and a 16-under par victory tally.

Manassero, at 17 years and 188 days, is a year and 25 days younger than when New Zealand’s Danny Lee, while still an amateur, captured the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia.

But as a full European Tour member, Manassero is 12 days younger than Seve Ballesteros when he captured his first of 77 pro tour wins in 1974.

“My first reaction is I am a bit shocked but to win a tour event is something I thought about in my dreams,” he said..

Manassero collected a €327,961 first prize cheque along with the last spot into next fortnight’s $US 7m WGC–HSBC Champions event.

He and Coleraine-based McGuigan, 30, first teamed at this year’s Dubai Desert Classic and since then the two have taken the golf world by storm.

“The very important thing about a player and the caddy is that they can speak together, and they can say things to each other,” he said.

“So Ryan and I get on very well together. We are a good team and we have gelled very good in such a short time. He’s also a really nice guy. He’s a very precise guy who wants to do things very well so that is very important for me, he’s very much a big part of my win.