Manny goes down memory lane in Italy

With his national open set to tee off in just two days’ time, Matteo Manassero was taken on a trip down memory lane at Circolo Golf Torino after europeantour.com presented him with the above picture of a six year old Matteo receiving some expert advice from Sir Nick Faldo.

The picture, taken in 1999 at Arzaga Golf Club near Lake Garda, shows Manassero under the watchful eye of Faldo and Nicola Pomponi, a former professional and now one of Italy’s most respected golf commentators for Sky Italia.

Pomponi was the Master of Ceremonies that day who picked Manassero out of the crowd to receive some special treatment from six-time Major Champion Faldo.

“I remember it well,” smiled Manassero upon seeing the picture after a practice round for the 70° Open d’Italia Lindt. “I think I was six years old. Faldo was coming to do a clinic at Arzaga. I think Nicola knew me from the area so he called me in to hit a few shots.

“I don’t remember why, but I wasn’t nervous. I know that, and I remember wondering why I wasn’t tense because Nick Faldo was watching me, but I managed to hit a few good ones. That is a really great memory for me.”

Seeing his picture with Faldo also sparked one of Matteo’s dearest memories from four years later, when the then ten year old was summoned by his idol, the great Seve Ballesteros, to hit some chip shots during a junior clinic at his home club, Garda Golf.

“He called me out to hit a few chips and I holed the second one. I think he was impressed!”