Golf: Oostie advised to ignore Masters ache
Manassero backed Louis Oosthuizen to shrug off his Masters heartache at the Malaysian Open.
KUALA LUMPUR:
Teen champion Matteo Manassero backed Louis Oosthuizen to shrug off his Masters heartache at the Malaysian Open but warned victory would be ‘nearly impossible’ for the South African. Manassero, who claimed his second European Tour win in Kuala Lumpur last year, said the unflappable Oosthuizen would not be fazed by Sunday’s near-miss at Augusta, when he lost a dramatic play-off with Bubba Watson. “I think he’ll respond really well,” said the 18-year-old Italian. “He’s played fantastically during the Masters, but what can you do? Bubba’s done really well as well.” However, last year, Manassero beat a high-quality but jet-lagged field in Malaysia including newly-crowned Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Rory McIlroy, who threw away a four-shot lead in the last round.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2012.
Teen champion Matteo Manassero backed Louis Oosthuizen to shrug off his Masters heartache at the Malaysian Open but warned victory would be ‘nearly impossible’ for the South African. Manassero, who claimed his second European Tour win in Kuala Lumpur last year, said the unflappable Oosthuizen would not be fazed by Sunday’s near-miss at Augusta, when he lost a dramatic play-off with Bubba Watson. “I think he’ll respond really well,” said the 18-year-old Italian. “He’s played fantastically during the Masters, but what can you do? Bubba’s done really well as well.” However, last year, Manassero beat a high-quality but jet-lagged field in Malaysia including newly-crowned Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Rory McIlroy, who threw away a four-shot lead in the last round.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2012.