The debrief: Jonsson Workwear Open

The DP World Tour saw Matteo Manassero end an 11-year wait to win again as the International Swing came to an end. Here is everything you need to know from the Jonsson Workwear Open.

Manassero completes DP World Tour comeback with long-awaited fifth title

Matteo Manassero completed a successful comeback in his first season back on the DP World Tour as he ended his near 11-year wait for a fifth title with an emotional three-shot triumph at the Jonsson Workwear Open.

The Italian, who has experienced all the highs and lows that golf has to offer since becoming the DP World Tour's youngest winner at the age of 17 years and 188 days at the 2010 Castelló Masters Costa Azahar, earned an emotional return to the winner's circle for the first time since the 2013 BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.

Manassero, who led the way after an career-low 61 on Friday, was only briefly behind on the final day before recapturing the top spot with back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16.

He then had to endure a two-hour-and-27-minute weather delay before returning to the 17th fairway, and while he found the sand with his second, a stunning bunker shot to three feet handed him a two-shot lead heading down the last. And with the daylight almost all gone, he holed an eight-footer on the 18th green for a fourth birdie in a row and ultimately comfortable win on 26-under-par.

"This is the best day of my life on a golf course for sure," said Manassero, who finished his round with four birdies. "It's been a crazy journey over the last couple of years. I knew that I was getting on the right track but then you never know.

"Even coming down the 18th with a good tee-shot, you still have to do some work. Golf is a really difficult and tough game so I am just so incredibly happy to be here holding this (trophy) right now.

"I think I played really good golf today basically the whole round. It's really hard. The guys behind were playing some incredible golf and every time you look at the leaderboard there is a different name with more birdies.

"Every time during a round of golf you have some times that if you can go through them you see light and then the finish was amazing."

Manassero's comeback over recent years was kickstarted with a victory on home soil on the Alps Tour in 2020, followed by two runner-up finishes, while he won twice last season on the European Challenge Tour as he graduated to the DP World Tour.

Career-low round for Manassero

His path to victory would not have been possible without a career-low 61 during the second round at Glendower Golf Club, which had him within striking distance of the second ever DP World Tour round of 59.

After opening his round on the back nine with a birdie, eagle, birdie start, Manassero added two further birdies at the 15th and 16th holes before carding a second eagle of the morning at the 17th to turn in an eight-under-par 28.

On a day where soft greens yielded plenty of low scoring, it was the par fives where Manassero took firm advantage in South Africa. Having already posted two eagles, he followed a birdie at the par-four second with two final gains at the par-five fourth and sixth holes - leaving him needing to birdie two of his last three for a 59.

He closed out with three consecutive pars to secure the lowest round of his career, although was left to rue an agonising missed chance at the eighth to go one better as he grabbed the early clubhouse lead on day two.

“I was at one point as well to be fair," Manassero said of thinking about a 59.

"I mean, I never even came close to touching 11 under so it's been the best round I've had in my life, I guess. I couldn't be happier."

Ones to watch

Connor Syme and Tom McKibbin's eighth and ninth place finishes at the Jonsson Workwear Open put them firmly in the frame of players to watch for the upcoming Asian Swing.

It's been 12 made cuts in a row for Syme, but more impressively it's been a fruitful trip to Africa, where he finished tied seventh at the Magical Kenya Open, tied fourth at the SDC Championship, and eighth last week. During the SDC Championship Syme even held a share of the lead heading into the final day, and the Scot took to instagram to state that he was happy about where his game is trending as he continues to seek his first victory on the DP World Tour.

"Three top 10s in a row for my trip down to Africa these past few weeks. Happy with how my game is trending, see you at work," he wrote on Instagram.

As for McKibbin, who claimed the Porshe European Open for his maiden victory last year, the story is much the same. The Northern Irishman hasn't finished outside the top 25 yet in 2024 - which is highlighted by a fourth place finish at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, a tied 12th place finish at the SDC Championship, and a second top ten of the year at Glendower. It's also worth noting that McKibbin finished tied 12th last year in Singapore, which is the first stop on the Asian Swing in two weeks time.

International Swing comes to an end

The final event of the International Swing came to a head at the Jonsson Workwear Open, ending an eight-event run that began at the Dubai Invitational in January, and also included the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Ras Al Khaimah Championship, Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Magical Kenya Open, and SDC Championship.

With victory in the first Rolex Series event of the year and a runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational, Rory McIlroy was crowned the winner of the International Swing, following Min Woo Lee, who topped the rankings of the Opening Swing at the end of 2023.

Matteo Manassero's victory moved him up to 13th on the Race to Dubai and ninth on the International Swing, moving up an impressive 105 places on account of his win.

A two week break will now precede the Asian Swing, which begins with the Porsche Singapore Classic on March 21.