Matteo Manassero, the youngest winner in European Tour history, is targeting a sensational return to the European Tour with victory in this week’s Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A at T Golf & Country Club.
The Italian triumphed at the 2010 Castelló Masters in Spain, making him the youngest-ever winner on the European Tour at 17 years and 188 days, before securing his second European Tour win at the 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open, making him first and second on the list of youngest European Tour winners.
The four-time European Tour winner finished in a tie for third at the Challenge Costa Brava to climb 20 places to 44th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and secure his spot at the Grand Final. The Italian now believes he can produce a grandstand finish to earn European Tour playing rights for the 2022 season, with a top-two finish in Mallorca required.
“It was really nice to get to the end of a long season and get the result that you really want,” he said. “It was extra special because I came into the last two events in the top 70 and managed to get into the top 45 in the last event before the Grand Final.
“I can definitely use it as fuel because it has brought me confidence for sure. The results bring you confidence, but I have been really happy with the work I have done all year and the way I have handled myself on the course. The big picture is the work and process that I have been going through to get to this point.”
The 28-year-old’s last victory came eight years ago at the 2013 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, but a strong performance at the Challenge Costa Brava has restored belief he can return to the winner’s circle.
“I believe I can win,” he said. “I have been playing well and for a long time and I felt that I could win the tournament in Empordà. In my mind that is huge because I haven’t had the feeling that I could actually win a tournament for a very long time. I will try and go in with the same attitude because I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I’m standing in a worse position than the guys in the top 20, but that means I can only move forwards if I play well.”
Manassero picked up four European Tour titles before the age of 20 but has not had much to celebrate since and admits he would approach things differently should he secure his playing privileges on the Race to Dubai next season.
“It would mean everything to return to the European Tour,” he said. “It’s the ultimate goal. I would divide my career into two parts, and focus on the new work that I have put in. It would be a completely fresh start because although I had the experience of the European Tour from when I was young, it would be completely different if I was to return. I now have a different mentality and I am now ready to enjoy everything and see it from a different perspective.”
The 2021 Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A gets under way at 8:15am local time on Thursday November 4, with Manassero teeing it up in the first group alongside three-time Challenge Tour winner Stuart Manley and France’s Jérôme Lando-Casanova
