Manassero skips Andalucia Masters to focus on getting to HSBC Masters

Matteo Manassero has pulled out of this week’s Andalucia Masters at Valderrama to focus on getting a visa in time for next week’s HBSC World Championship in Shanghai. The 17-year-old Italian qualified for both events at the Castello Masters on Sunday when he became the youngest European Tour winner in history. He’s in Rome trying to get a visa to visit China for the $7 million tournament in Shanghai. Manager Gorka Guillen says Manassero “has still not obtained the necessary letter of invitation from the sports ministry to get a visa, and that remains the key issue.” Manassero’s four-shot triumph in Spain on Sunday boosted him from 164th to 88th in the world. Last year's British Amateur champion -- he was the youngest to lift that title, too -- began the year ranked 570th.