Renato’s a Masters craftsman
ITALIAN speed merchant Renato Paratore was given an unusual guard of honour after winning the European Tour’s first full event back after lockdown.
With no crowd at the Close House course in Newcastle yesterday, the 23-year-old antidote to the slow-play sickness was applauded from the green by his rivals.
He walked through an arch of raised putters after a three-shot victory at the Betfred British Masters.
Paratore said: “It was really amazing. I didn’t expect that from my friends here.
“It was a really good sensation. These are the moments you love.
“Today wasn’t easy but I played well. I’m really happy. It was a little bit strange out there but fortunately there was some crowd at the end.”
Paratore supplied his own sound effects with a mighty roar of “vamos!” after sinking the key 15ft birdie putt at the penultimate hole.
He parred the last for a 69 to claim his second European Tour win, three years after his last one at the Nordea Masters.
The popular young Italian’s blemish-free run in the tournament had finally come to an end at the ninth hole with his first bogey but birdies at the second, seventh and 10th, before the clincher at 17, saw him finish 18-under.
■■British Masters host Lee Westwood trailed in last of the players to make the cut, after a 79, and confirmed he would not go to the USPGA Championship in a fortnight, despite the US lifting quarantine rules for competitors.
Westwood said: “I know that they’ve dropped the two-week quarantine but I don’t feel comfortable – or feel that it is now right to be jumping on a plane for 12 hours.
“I’m still concerned that America doesn’t take this thing as seriously as the rest of the world.”