FROM NOW on, Matteo Manassero will play for pay. The evidence from this Masters would indicate the 16-year-old Italian – who finished as leading amateur – has the world at his feet, for he has displayed a maturity way beyond in his years in the two majors in which he has competed.

Manassero, who last year became the youngest winner of the British Amateur, which earned him a ticket to the British Open at Turnberry (tied-12th) and the Masters (tied-36th), will embark on a professional career in three weeks’ time when he plays in the Italian Open. After that, he will be relying on sponsors’ invites . . . and you can only imagine he will have a string of suitors knocking on his door.

Manassero – who will engage in internet tutorage to finish his school education while on tour – has no concerns about making the step from amateur to professional.

“Playing on a course like this makes you understand that you can play on every course,” said Manassero, who hopes to emulate Rory McIlroy by earning sufficient prize money from invites to secure his tour card without the need to go to tour school.