Golfer Siddikur Rahman was once again impressive as he surpassed a more illustrious name in the sport.
After finishing on eighth position in the $2.5-million Maybank Malaysian Open golf tournament in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, he was placed ahead of 2011 Masters Tournament champion Charl Shwartzel, who finished eleventh.
Siddikur also finished above world No 1 Martin Kaymer of Germany who finished on ninth place.
He was the top Asian Tour finisher in the co-sanctioned tournament, posting a final round 69 to end on 279 but was left rueing mistakes on the 13 and 15th. Siddikur won $62,500 as prize money (Tk 4,556,250) after giving a strong show on all three days of the competition that was won by Italian teen sensation Matteo Manassero.
“The crowd was very supportive and they cheered me on. It felt like I won the tournament after my birdie (18th hole). I had many supporters following me today (Sunday).
“I’m happy to finish in the top-10 and show the world that a player from Bangladesh can perform in such a big event,” said Siddikur.
He is now in second position in the Asian Tour Order of Merit with $117,607.69 (from four tournaments), behind SSP Chowrasia of India. Last year, Siddikur finished seventh in Asian Tour Order of Merit with $267,692.96 from 16 tournaments.
Earlier on April 9, Siddikur finished second behind Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand in the Panasonic Open in New Delhi, earning $32,550.
But Sunday’s finish ahead of South African Shwartzel as well as every other Asian Tour pro would lift his morale after a quiet start to the year (31st place finish in the SAIL Open in March).
Siddikur’s next tournament is the Indonesian Masters that begins on April 21.
Meanwhile, Manassero won by one shot over Frenchman Gregory Bourdy to seal his second European Tour victory. Manassero shot a fourth round four-under-par 68 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to seal the win with a four-round total of 272.
There was no comeback for world No 9 Rory McIlroy a week on from his last-round collapse at the US Masters.
The Northern Irishman battled bravely on the back nine to give himself a shot at victory but a bogey on the last meant there was no playoff with Manassero as McIlroy finished third on 14-under 274.
Bourdy posted 67 for a 273 total, while US PGA champion and world number one Martin Kaymer was eight shots back in a tie for ninth.
“I really had a good day today. I hit good shots. I am overjoyed,” Manassero said.
The youngster said an eagle on the par-five 10th had set him on his victory charge and subsequent birdies on 11 and 14 helped seal the hard-fought win over Bourdy.
“I had to do two birdies to win by one shot. It was a surprise win after the Castello Masters 11 months ago,” he said.
Manassero received the winner’s cheque of $416,660 and became the Malaysian Open’s youngest winner and the first Italian to win the tournament.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
