GOLF: Coleraine caddy part of historic Manassero win

The 17-year-old sank three consecutive birdie putts on the back nine to move to 16 under with a final-round 67 with caddy Ryan McGuigan offering advice on his every shot.

Ryan had been a good amateur golfer in his own right, playing off a low single figure handicap and captaining the St Andrew's University Golf Team, before getting a surprise phone call from his old friend Michael Hoey which started the Castlerock Golf Club member on his caddying career.

Five years later, after spells working with Robert Rock and Oliver Fisher, Ryan was asked to caddy for the young Italian Manassero.

Despite a 13 year age gap between the two, 30-year-old Ryan says the two have a good working relationship.

"He's very mature so I don't really think so much about this age," Ryan told the Times.

"With a lot of these young lads coming onto the tour they have generally had a lot of international travel with amateur golf, dealing with the press etc.

"They mature quickly and can articulate really well so I don't think of him as being really, really young.

"I love caddying. Going out in the big pairings, being in contention, that is what the game is all about for me and why it's so difficult to imagine working nine to five."

The former British Amateur Champion, who made his professional debut at the Italian Open in May, Manassero also becomes the youngest full European Tour member as a result of this win, eclipsing the previous record held by Spain's Seve Ballesteros by just twelve days.