Italian job for Scottish Open
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RISING golf superstar Italian Matteo Manassero has boosted entry of the Aberdeen Asset Management at Castle Stuart next month by confirming his attendance in the tournament yesterday (Wednesday).
This is a massive boost for the North course at it prepares to host the top competition for the third successive year before it moves on to Royal Aberdeen.
The 20-year old has just become the youngest-ever winner of the PGA Championship and Wentworth and he will join the growing cast of stars at the Highland links course on July 11-14 chasing the silverware won a year ago by Jeev Milkha Singh. The news comes as two-time European Tour winner Stephen Gallacher hailed the tournament as the "fifth Major" and praised the stunning Castle Stuart course.
Manassero, who won a thrilling play-off against Scotland’s Marc Warren and Simon Khan last month, has golf circles buzzing.
Manassero, who won the silver medal for being the leading Amateur at The Open at Turnberry in 2009 before storming into title contention, said: "Winning at Wentworth was a big moment for me. It was the biggest win of my career so far and winning such a big tournament gives me a lot of belief going into the summer.
"The Scottish Open is one of the biggest events on the European Tour schedule and one that I would love to win, especially on that links course at Castle Stuart."
Manassero tied for 36th place last year in the Scottish Open and joins fellow Italians, brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
The latter was edged out by Milkha Singh here last year, while Edoardo won the title formerly at Loch Lomond.
Meanwhile, with The Open taking place at Muirfield this year, just after this Highland extravaganza, Gallacher from Linthlithgow insisted the Castle Stuart showcase takes on extra significance.
The 38-year-old explained: "This is probably the fifth major for us. Especially for us, you want to win in front of your home fans – especially now as the tournament offers you a spot in The Open (one week later).
"Whenever The Open is in Scotland, it becomes even more elevated.
"The field has just got better, with Matteo Manassero now changing his schedule to come here as well as many top guys from America.
He added that Manassero is one of the true superstars in golf, like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, who he compared in football to Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney.
Gallacher, who is shaking off a back niggle, added: "This is the week of the year that we look forward to.
"I am trying to qualify for The Open at Sunningdale (on June 24), but if that doesn’t happen the Scottish Open is the last chance saloon. That’s an added bonus, someone will be fortunate if they are not already in it."
When asked whether he would follow Phil Mickelson’s route and go Nessie-hunting while here, he smiled, adding: "We saw the dolphins last time.
"I am a bit of a whisky collecter, so I will go and take in some of the distilleries. We have also been to the Culloden Battlefield.
"Loch Ness is maybe a wee bit too far away from us here - and we know Nessie’s not really there!"
Gallacher, who demonstrated to press and sponsors a few skills on the course yesterday morning, added: "I like it here. The fairways here are fiery, but they still have a lot of give in them.
"The greens are truer. I was lucky enough to play here when it opened and the difference is unbelievable."
