At 16, Italy’s Matteo Manassero is on top of the amateur golf world. At No. 1 in the
World Amateur Golf Ranking, he became the youngest ever (and the first Italian)
to win the British Amateur and tied for 13th in last year’s British Open. Manassero
plans to play in The Masters (as an amateur) in April where he will become the
youngest contestant in tournament history. Sorry college coaches, no recruiting
here. Manassero plans to turn pro after The Masters.
Matteo Manassero
BIRTHDATE April 19, 1993
BIRTHPLACE Verona, Italy
FAVORITE FOOD(S) Spaghetti.
ON MY iPOD All types of music, most of them
are pop.
FAVORITE MOVIE(S) “The Hangover.”
HIDDEN TALENT Soccer.
BIGGEST FEAR
Snakes and
spiders.
FAVORITE COURSE Augusta National, Turnberry.
DREAM FOURSOME Just me and Phil Mickelson.
FAVORITE GOLFER ALIVE/DECEASED Seve
Ballesteros.
WORDS TO LIVE BY Believe in your dreams.
BEST GOLF TIP Put some tees around the hole
at different distances and try to hole as many as
you can.
SHOT I LOVE TO PRACTICE All types of approach
shots.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT Always need
improvement.
FAVORITE CLUB Putter and
my 58 degree wedge.
BALL MARKER Black
Sharpie.
SUPERSTITIONS None.
HOLES-IN-ONE 2.
AGE I FIRST BROKE 70 13.
LOWEST ROUND EVER 64.
LOVE TO TRADE PLACES
WITH Alberto Binaghi (his
caddie and coach).
FAVORITE NON-GOLF
ATHLETE Usain Bolt,
Michael Phelps.
WHAT’S IN THE BAG
DRIVER Titleist 909 D3 Axivcore Proforce
69X, 3-WOOD Titleist 909 F2 13. 5 degrees with
a Proforce V2 86X, HYBRID Titleist 909 H 17
degrees with a Fujikura Speeder 86X, IRONS
AP2 from 3 to PW with a Dynamic Gold S400,
WEDGES 52- and 58-degree Titleist proto-
types, PUTTER Scotty Cameron prototype.
