Young Matteo Manassero makes it into the field at Vivendi Seve Trophy – Golf news
Young Italian golfer, Matteo Manassero somehow manages to be in the news even though he has not won a title since his last victory on the Asian Tour earlier this year. Having a clear edge with his tender age, young Manassero has now another feather in his
cap when he will be teeing off in the Vivendi Seve Trophy this week, as the youngest player in the history of the tournament and he is happy to be there for all the good reasons.
He said, “It’s pride and I’m happy, as you said, to be the youngest to compete in this, and I didn’t even expect at the beginning of the year, I was trying to get into this team obviously, but I did well and in the end I just got in.”
Manassero, who has won twice on the European Tour after turning professional in 2010, was not able to qualify for the field at this week’s memorial event, rather he managed to barge in as one of the senior player decided to pull out at the last moment.
The tournament was renamed to Vivendi Seve Trophy to pay homage to the late Severiano Ballesteros, who died earlier this year fighting a dreadful brain tumour. The tournament is a team event played biennially between the teams of Great Britain, Ireland and
the Continental Europe.
Although, much similar to the Ryder Cup which is played between European and American teams, Vivendi Seve Trophy comprises of smaller teams of five players each. The teams are selected based on two selection criteria including the top-five players from the
Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and the top-five players on the Race to Dubai Points table.
In this way, not only the finest European players are included in the event but also the most loyal to the European Tour are selected via the Race to Dubai criteria. Manassero also spoke of his fondness for the once great, Ballesteros. “Seve was my idol
and I never got to know him that well, but I met him once and that meant a lot for me,” said the 18-year-old Italian who is not only the youngest amateur champion but also the youngest player ever to make the cut at the Masters in 2010.
The English team has won last of the five events in a row and boosts of World Number Two, Westwood, in its ranks this year. Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy who might have come in handy are playing the adjacent tournament, FedExCup Playoff Championship on the
PGA tour.
Continental Europe will be stepping in the event with one its strongest teams ever with Anders Hansen, Francesco Molinari and Thomas Bjorn who are placed at Number 25, 26 and 27 ranks in the world, ensuring an exciting event over the weekend.
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