Manassero targets Scottish Open win

Italian youngster talks up chances of winning at Castle Stuart this week

He might be Italian through and through but Matteo Manassero believes his knack for playing ‘Scottish golf’ could stand him in good stead in this week’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

The 20-year-old, who won the fourth European Tour title of his fledgling career at the BMW PGA Championship in May, reckons his strong short game and ability to coax the ball around links courses makes him a viable contender for this week’s championship.

“I love links golf,” said Manassero. “It suits my game. I have a lower ball trajectory than a lot of the other players, which allows them to hit it further than me. However, on a links course, I can run the ball a lot more than usual and that helps me close the gap on those other players, which is very important. It’s a good feeling to hit the ball the same distances as them because then it all comes down to the short game and I would say that’s the best part of my game.”

Manassero will be partnered in the opening two rounds at Castle Stuart by Thorbjorn Olesen and Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and he added he might be tempted to ask the 1999 Open champion for some advice ahead of next week’s tournament at Muirfield.

“I love links golf. It suits my game … and helps me close the gap on those other players”

He said: “It’s a great draw for me. I will be watching Paul to see if I can pick up any tips because he won the Open on one of the hardest venues on the rota and Muirfield next week will be difficult, too. I may also ask him a few things as well.”

Not that Manassero has too much to learn. He won the Silver Medal in the 2009 Open at Turnberry and, for a brief spell on the Sunday, looked as though he could walk off with the Claret Jug. Little wonder he believes that, of the four majors, the Open is the one where he stands the best chance of glory.

“I could do well ,” he said. “The Open is the major which is most suited to me.”

Given his love of links, it is also no surprise to learn that Manassero is keen to land a title here in the home of golf before too long.

“It would mean so much to win in Scotland,” he added. “It would be amazing and I would love to do it this week. Castle Stuart is a good course for me, I feel I can do well here. It’s the right time to do it.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor