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Matteo Manassero has established himself among some of the most talented competitors in the world despite his young age the fact he only entered the world of professional golf two years ago.
The promising talent, who is the youngest golfer to win a European Tour event, has enjoyed two victories on the campaign, as well as a number of respectable finishes in major championships.
Although he is yet to reach the heights of Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the 19-year-old Italian has displayed skills that are way beyond his years and could find himself climbing up the official world rankings in the future.
Manassero's most notable win came at the 2011 Maybank Malaysia Open - his second victory on the European Tour after the Castello Masters Costa Azahar in 2010 - where he beat Frenchman Gregory Bourdy by a single shot.
Moving up to 35th place in the official world rankings as a result, the then 17-year-old earned himself a European Tour exemption through to 2013, as well as automatic qualifications for the Bridgestone International and WGC-HSBC Champions later that year.
During the tournament, Manassero faced strong competition from McIlroy, who birdied the 14th, 16th and 17th holes on the final day to get within one shot of the young Italian.
However, the now world number two missed a par putt on the final hole and ended up in third place just one week after his epic collapse at the Masters Tournament.
"Obviously at this moment I'm pretty disappointed, but it was a good week," McIlroy commented after the event.
"I started out really well and to shoot the scores I did considering the travelling is a pretty good effort. ... I'm proud of myself at how I picked myself up from last week and the way I came back on the back nine today."
Manassero also managed to hold off German professional Martin Kaymer and that year's Masters winner Charl Schwartzel to take the crown in the Maybank Malaysia Open.
Born in Negrar in the Province of Verona in 1993, Manassero began his affiliation with the sport from an early age. At just 16, the talented player became the youngest ever winner of the British Amateur Championship, beating Englishman Sam Hutsby in the final.
He then played alongside Tom Watson and Sergio Garcia in the first two rounds of the 2009 Open Championship, where he made the cut and won the silver medal as leading non-professional before finishing in a tie for 13th place.
Career Wins;
Oct 2010 - Castelló Masters Costa Azahar
Apr 2011 - Maybank Malaysian Open