Matteo Manassero has enjoyed an impressively consistent start to the 2017 European Tour season, and the Italian is hoping to capitalise on the resulting high confidence by claiming a fifth career title at this week’s Rocco Forte Open – Verdura, Sicily.
Having experienced a remarkable start to his professional career, claiming a European Tour title in each of his first four seasons - the 24 year old is wise beyond his years and knows all about the importance of consistency and momentum.
He only has one top five finish this year, but just one missed cut in eight starts is an important statistic for a player who had struggled with some swing changes in recent years and is steadily rebuilding the game and self-belief which has made him one of the most exciting prospects in European golf.
As he takes to home soil for the first time this season, Manassero is in buoyant mood and is relishing the opportunity to play in front of his home fans.
“I am glad to be back,” said the Verona-born star. “It’s a great place here, everyone can see that. It’s particularly great that we can all come back to the south of Italy to just be here and play golf – everything seems to taste better, the air is fresher. It’s just wonderful.
“My game is good. I played really well with Renato (Paratore) at the GolfSixes, that was a lot of fun. I’ve had a consistent start to the season.
“It was only in India where I played really well and finished third. Otherwise I’ve been at the middle of the pack, but almost every time I have played four rounds, so that’s a very good thing. It keeps the consistency and it keeps the confidence high so it’s all good.
“I hope there will be as many people as possible watching and get some crowds to cheers us on. It’s always nice to play in front of the Italian fans.”
While Manassero played at this venue in 2012, the last time the European Tour visited the idyllic venue, this week will see a composite course in effect, utilising the most coastal holes from both the East and West courses.
He is looking forward to the challenge, especially if the wind kicks up a little as it is expected to do as the week goes on.
“This is a great golf course,” he said. “It will be my first time practicing on it for a while this week and I know the composite course is a bit different so I am curious to see what they went for this year. It’s great to be back though.
“If the wind picks ups it won’t be such low scoring but otherwise I think it will be low scoring for sure. It will good to watch on TV, with lots of birdies, that’s just how this golf course is.
“If there is too much rough then this course becomes too tricky – there are a lot of little doglegs and mounds. It’s going to be firm too so I think the course’s biggest defence is the wind and the firm greens.”
