Kapur signs off as top Indian at tied 13th at Malaysian Open

April 17, 2011 06:22 pm | Updated 06:22 pm IST - Kuala Lumpur

Shiv Kapur missed out on a top—10 finish as he bogeyed twice on the back nine to turn in a one—under 71 in the final round to sign off at tied 13th at the Maybank Malaysian Open here today.

Kapur with a four—day total of six—under 282 finished 10 strokes behind winner Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, who earned himself a euro 288,465 birthday present with his second European Tour win.

The Italian, who turns 18 on Tuesday, started the celebrations early as a closing 68 helped him finish 16—under and see off challenges from Gregory Bourdy (67) and Rory McIlroy (69), who finished at 15—under and 14—under respectively.

Kapur was the highest place Indian in the field with Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri finishing tied 47th and 53rd respectively. Six other Indians missed the cut.

“I am really happy with this week of golf as it has been a very challenging tournament. It was great to have three Majors Champions and the World Number One playing here and it only made the tournament bigger. I have been really happy with my form over the last couple of months and am growing in confidence after my last few performances on tour,” Kapur said.

Kapur had three birdies in the first 10 holes, but bogeys on the 12th and 13th set him back as there were no more birdies.

The 10th tee starter, Jeev simply collapsed after six holes dropping five bogeys against two birdies in next nine holes from seventh to 15th to end with a card of 76. That saw him drop from a possible top—20 finish to tied 47th.

Lahiri also had a big meltdown on the ninth, where he shot a quadruple bogey and ended with a 72 despite five birdies. He tied for 53rd at one—over 289.

Manassero produced a superb final round of four—under 68, thanks largely to a pivotal eagle three on the 10th hole to triumph by one.

A week after his Masters disappointment where he led for 63 holes before fading away, McIlroy produced a brave fight in the USD 2.5 million showpiece, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary and was sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

The Northern Irishman, the world number nine, battled magnificently on the back nine to give himself a title chance but failed to find the crucial birdie at the last hole to force a play—off with Manassero as he settled for third place with a 69 for a 274 total.

Manassero, who will break into the world’s top—35 with his second career victory, said: “It’s fantastic. I managed to achieve a victory, which is just fantastic. To have another win two days before 18, it’s a great achievement.”

The Italian completed his third round this morning with a 67 to enter the final round tied for the lead with Alexander Noren of Sweden and showed his immense talent by emerging atop a crowded leaderboard.

Manassero needed two crucial up and downs for par saves on the eighth and nine holes to turn in 35 before producing the shot of the week by holing out a nine iron approach for an eagle three at the par five 10th hole to grab the lead from Bourdy.

Manassero got his trophy from the Malaysian prime minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak and a winner’s cheque of USD 416,660.

Bangladesh’s Siddikur was the top Asian Tour finisher in eighth place after he signed off with a 69 to finish seven shots behind the winner.

World number one Martin Kaymer of Germany finished in tied ninth place after closing with a 72 while Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa claimed a share of 11th place after a 70.

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