Italy has achieved another great result on the international golf circuit thanks to Renato Paratore, 20 years old, from Rome, who yesterday, in Sweden, won the Nordea Masters, one of the most important tournaments of the European Tour. A success that highlighted all the potential of the young player: great technical and competitive skills, wise management of strategies and above all an enviable steadfastness of nerves, which allowed him to keep up with competitors much more experienced than him. In particular to the Englishman Chris Wood, a Ryder Cup player, who lost his playoff opportunity on the last hole.
On the course of the Barsebäck G&CC (par 73) Paratore was in the lead from day one, finishing four rounds with a total of 281 shots (68 72 71 70, -11), one ahead of Wood and Matthew Fitzpatrick ( 282, -10), outgoing champion.
“The birdies on holes 8 and 9 were important – commented Renato hotly – the putts on the last three holes were fundamental. I knew if I didn't have brownouts and kept a good attitude I would make it through. And so it was."
Paratore is the first player born after 1995 to dominate the European Tour and at twenty years and 172 days he is the eleventh youngest winner in the history of the circuit and the second Italian after Matteo Manassero. Furthermore, he signed the second success of the season on the Azzurri's tour after that of Edoardo Molinari in the Trophée Hassan II.
The two Swedes Alex Noren, world number eight, 15th with 287 (-5), and Henrik Stenson, number five, 26th with 289 (-3), did not shine in the tournament, leaving the low ranking only in the final. Fatigue penalized Matteo Manassero, 72nd with 304 (75 72 80 77, +12), while Nino Bertasio went out, 80th with 149 (75 74, +3) and out for two strokes.
