Manassero Captures BMW PGA Championship


Matteo Manassero closed with a 3-under 69 and then survived a three-way sudden-death playoff to win the BMW PGA Championship. With his fourth career title the 20-year-old Italian became the youngest player ever to win the European Tour's flagship event.

Manassero, who previously won in Spain, Malaysia and Singapore on the European Tour, tied Scotland's Marc Warren (69) and England's Simon Khan (66) in regulation at 10-under 278.

Warren left the playoff on the first extra hole - the par-5 18th - after a wayward drive. After both Manassero and Khan went birdie-par-birdie on their three times down 18, Manassero carded his third birdie on the hole to vanquish Khan, who found water fronting the green with his approach.

The victory was worth 792,000 euros ($1.02 million).

"It's been an amazing week, I've always felt something special about this place and this tournament," said Manassero, who with the win earned a spot in the upcoming U.S. Open and British Open. "I'm the happiest man in the world right now."

"I'm disappointed, I'm desperate to win this again and last time it felt a bit surreal coming from that far back," countered Khan, the BMW PGA champion in 2010.

Two Spaniards - Miguel Angel Jimenez and 54-hole leader Alejandro Canizares - ended up sharing fourth at 279 after they closed with 67 and 72, respectively.

South Africans Ernie Els (67) and first-round leader James Kingston (68) joined England's Eddie Pepperell (69) in sixth at 280.

Lee Westwood began Sunday only a stroke out of the lead but closed with a 73. "I'm struggling with my swing a little bit and it just gets found out when the pressure is on," said the 40-year-old Brit. "The main problem is I haven't got a safe shot. It's something I'm keeping working on. The short game was good, but I struggled a little bit on the greens."

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2013/tournamentid=2013038/leaderboard/index.html.