Matteo wants to do it for Seve
Matteo Manassero would like nothing more than to honour Seve Ballesteros with a win at the Vivendi Seve Trophy this week.
Matteo Manassero would like nothing more than to honour Seve Ballesteros with a win at the Vivendi Seve Trophy this week.
In the six times the event has been held, Continental Europe has only come out at top on one occasion, and that was in the inaugural tournament back in 2000 when they were led by the late, great Seve Ballesteros himself, the man whose name has now become synonomous with the Trophy.
“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,” he told europeantour.com.
“But it means even more for my first chance in the event to be when we are missing him for the first time. We’re going to hopefully give him a great honour.”
At 18 years of age, Manessero is set to become the youngest ever player to participate in the event when he lines up for Continental Europe against Great Britain & Ireland this week, surpassing previous record holder Sergio Garcia.
For the young Italian, it’s not only a geat honour in itself, but the perfect stepping stone to perhaps making it into the 2012 Ryder Cup side.
“It’s great to be here,” he said. “It’s an honour to be in an event that is named after Seve. So it’s great to be part of this and I think it’s a big step forward towards The Ryder Cup.
“I’m proud and happy to be the youngest to compete in this, and I didn’t even expect it at the beginning of the year. It’s great to be here.”
Manassero also believes captain Jean Van de Velde is the right man to end the run of five successive defeats for Continental Europe.
“The atmosphere is good,” he said. “Jean is a really good captain with a lot of charisma, and knows his golf very well. He’s trying to put up a few tactics that will hopefully work well.
“He’s very funny and he tells jokes. He’s a good captain because he has played serious moments and funny moments, and that’s very important. When you have to speak about something that is important for this match you have to be serious, but you can’t be serious all the time.
“Everybody is looking forward to attempting to win it.”
Latest
-
NewsDefiant Lee Westwood does not believe playing in LIV should harm Ryder Cup hopes
Westwood doesn’t agree with penalties and sanctions.
-
NewsShane Lowry welcomes closer ties between Tours in response to threat from LIV
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced the next phase of their strategic alliance.
-
NewsPadraig Harrington fears LIV series poses threat to future of DP World Tour
The US Senior Open champion thinks there is only room for the PGA and one other tour in the world game.
-
NewsSteve Stricker makes Padraig Harrington sweat as Irishman wins US Senior Open
The pair were rival captains in last year’s Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
-
NewsGolfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European TourDP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
NewsRory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The OpenR&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.