Manassero is the first Italian to win the title.Since turning pro in May, Manassero has earned $1.156 million.

Tandem, Canada's Cosmopiolitan Newspaper; Dec 5 -Dec 12, 2010
 
Italian teen golfing sensation Matteo Manassero crowned a memorable year Tuesday when he was named Rookie of the Year on the European Tour.

He is the first Italian to win the title.

Manassero clinched the honour and joined golfing greats like Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Sandy Lyle, Jose' Maria Olazabal and Tony Jacklin by becoming the youngest-ever winner of a European Tour title last month.
He triumphed at the Castello Masters in Spain at the age of 17 years, 188 days.

"I never thought I'd win so soon on the Tour," Manassero said on the European Tour website.
"And I didn't think I'd get this award either," he added modestly since he was a red-hot favourite for the crown.

"It's a thrill to see my name up there next to guys who have gone down in golfing history," adding that he hoped to emulate Germany's Martin Kaymer who was rookie of the year three years ago and is now No.1 on the tour. The Castello Masters win in Valencia on October 24 added to a mounting list of distinction. Last year Manassero became the youngest winner of the British Amateur Championship. That earned him a place later in the year at the British Open, where he claimed the silver medal for finishing as the leading amateur.

In April this year he became the youngest player to take part in the Masters, going on to also go down as the youngest player to make the cut at the American tournament shortly before turning professional.

Since turning pro in May Manassero has earned some 890,000 euros ($1.156 million). Along with the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, who helped Europe win the Ryder Cup on October 3, Manassero is being credited with turning young Italians on to golf.
 
http://www.corrieretandem.com/viewstory.php?storyid=10766
 

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