Federico Colombo has described his fellow Italian Matteo Manassero as “incredible” and says the teenager is an inspiration to other young golfers in their country.
Colombo, 23, is hoping to win on home soil next week when he plays in the Challenge Tour’s Mugello Tuscany Open, and the thought of following in Manassero’s footsteps onto The European Tour is a huge motivation.
Manassero, five years Colombo’s junior, is the youngest winner in European Tour history, having claimed the Castello Masters COSTA AZAHAR last season and triumphed in the Maybank Malaysian Open last month.
His success, coupled with the achievements of Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, who were part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team last October and between them have won four European Tour titles, means Italy is enjoying arguably its best ever spell in the game.
The fact there are four Challenge Tour events in Italy this season – as well as the BMW Italian Open on The European Tour – reflects this success, and Colombo has praised the development of golf in a nation traditionally more passionate about football and rugby. Indeed, Edoardo Molinari was the Challenge Tour Rankings winner in 2009, with record earnings having won three times that season.
“It’s important to have Challenge Tour events in Italy, because the popularity of golf in the country is increasing all the time,” said Colombo, who finished tied second at last season’s Kazakhstan Open. “Obviously we had Costantino Rocca in the 1990s, but then Italian golf was in the shade for a few years, so it’s great to see the Molinari brothers and Matteo doing so well.
“They’re all great players, but also great guys. What Matteo is achieving is just incredible – he seems to be setting new records every single week. Seeing him winning on The European Tour is pushing all Italian golfers to try to copy him.”
Colombo is relishing spending next week enjoying what Poggio dei Medici Golf Club and the surrounding area near Florence, Tuscany, has to offer.
“Tuscany is one of the best regions in Italy,” he said. “The food and the wine are very good, and the scenery is very beautiful. So I’m sure everyone will really enjoy the week, and I’m sure I will too – as long as I play well.”
