Teenager Matteo Manassero shines on Masters debut !

Manassero happy to be improving Italian teenager Matteo Manassero etched his name into Masters history in some style on the final day at Augusta. The 16-year-old amateur, the youngest to ever compete at the Masters, birdied the 18th to finish four over, earning a fine reception and the Silver Medal. "It will definitely help me to be comfortable with this crowd and understand I can compete with these guys," said Manassero. The youngster will turn professional at next month's Italian Open. His score put him ahead of the likes of former Masters winners Zach Johnson and Mike Weir as well as Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia, a player who made his own memorable debut at the Masters back in 1999. Manassero, the only amateur to make the cut at Augusta, also shone at the Open last year, winning the Silver Medal at Turnberry in recognition of his achievement as the highest finishing amateur. "Today I think I played really good," said Manassero, the first amateur since 2005 to play in the final two rounds at Augusta. "I can't play much better than this. I maybe left on the course some birdie chances. I made two bogeys, but I finished with a good birdie - that's a good memory." Manassero earned his place at Augusta by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the British Amateur Open last year. The fervent AC Milan fan will try to secure his place on the European Tour through seven invitations he has been offered, with the secondary Challenge Tour and the qualifying school as a possible fallback.