Matteo Manassero Bio
Matteo Manassero (born 19 April 1993) is an Italian professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. In 2010, he became the youngest golfer to win a European Tour event, and his most notable victory to date came at the 2013 BMW PGA Championship. A native of the Veneto region, Manassero built his career on a steady amateur foundation before rising to prominence on the European Tour and earning a return to top-level competition.
Early Life and Background
Matteo Manassero was born on 19 April 1993 in Negrar, a small town in the Province of Verona in northern Italy. Growing up in the Veneto region, he was introduced to golf as a child and initially played at the Villafranca Golf Club before moving to the Gardagolf Country Club in Soiano del Lago. At Gardagolf, he developed his game under the guidance of the club professional Franco Maestroni, who helped shape his early swing and course-management habits. The Italian countryside and his home club’s setting gave Manassero a comfortable environment in which to refine his craft.
Manassero’s progress through junior and amateur ranks was swift. He learned the game at a young age and quickly outgrew local competition, building the technical foundation that would later define his professional career. His early years at Gardagolf remain central to his identity, and he continues to serve as the touring professional of the club.
Path to Golf
Manassero’s amateur career produced a series of milestones that announced him as one of Europe’s most promising young players. In 2009, at the age of 16, he became the youngest-ever winner of the British Amateur Championship, defeating England’s Sam Hutsby in the final. The victory qualified him for the 2009 Open Championship, where he played the first two rounds alongside Tom Watson and Sergio García, made the cut, and earned the Silver Medal as the leading amateur. He eventually finished tied for 13th place at the Open.
Later that year, Manassero reached the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings on 30 December 2009, holding the number-one position for 18 weeks. In April 2010, at 16 years, 11 months, and 22 days, he beat Bobby Cole’s long-standing record to become the youngest player ever to make the cut at the Masters Tournament. Shortly after that Masters appearance and a few weeks past his 17th birthday, Manassero announced his decision to turn professional.
Matteo Manassero Career
Early Career (2010–2011)
Manassero turned pro on 3 May 2010, making his professional debut at the BMW Italian Open. He wasted little time delivering results, claiming his first victory on 24 October 2010 at the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar in Valencia, Spain, winning by four strokes over Ignacio Garrido. At 17, he became the youngest-ever winner on the European Tour, surpassing the record set by Danny Lee. The win secured his full European Tour playing privileges for the next two seasons and earned him the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award for 2010.
In 2011, Manassero secured his second European Tour title at the Maybank Malaysian Open on 17 April 2011, doing so at 17 years and 363 days old. The victory reinforced his standing as one of the European Tour’s leading young talents and built momentum heading into the following season.
European Tour Breakthrough (2012–2013)
In 2012, Manassero continued his upward trajectory, winning the Barclays Singapore Open in November to become the first teenager to record three European Tour victories. He added a second place at the Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol and five further top-10 finishes, ending the year 13th in the final Order of Merit.
In 2013, Manassero won the biggest tournament of his career to date, the 2013 BMW PGA Championship, where he birdied the fourth extra hole of a playoff against Simon Khan and Marc Warren to become the youngest-ever winner of that event. The victory earned him a place in the 2013 U.S. Open and pushed him into the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He closed the season 11th in the final Order of Merit.
Struggle and Rebuild (2014–2020)
After a 4th-place finish at the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, Manassero’s form declined sharply in 2015, when he made only six cuts in 22 European Tour starts and finished 167th in the Order of Merit. He retained his tour card thanks to the BMW PGA Championship win. Following the first round of the 2016 Scottish Open, he spoke openly to bunkered magazine about the personal difficulties he had faced during that stretch. He responded with a T3 at Castle Stuart, his best result of the season.
Manassero’s return to the winner’s circle came in 2020 at the Toscana Open on the Alps Tour, two tiers below the European Tour, marking his first professional victory in seven years. The result hinted at a turnaround that would unfold over the next few seasons.
Challenge Tour and Return to the European Tour (2023–2024)
Manassero won twice on the 2023 Challenge Tour, finishing ninth on the rankings and securing a return to the European Tour in 2024. In March 2024, he claimed the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa, his first European Tour victory in over a decade, signaling a full return to top-level competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Manassero is known for his composure, accurate iron play, and willingness to attack pins when the course suits. His patience and course-management skills, refined during years on developmental tours, have helped him handle pressure-filled situations such as multi-hole playoffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Manassero’s signature moments are his 2010 Castelló Masters win, which made him the youngest European Tour champion, and his 2013 BMW PGA Championship playoff victory, the defining achievement of his career to date. His record-setting 2010 Masters cut and his 2009 Silver Medal at the Open Championship remain defining achievements of his amateur years.
Matteo Manassero Career Wins
Manassero has compiled eight professional wins across multiple tours, including five European Tour titles, two Challenge Tour titles, and one Alps Tour title. His victories span the Maybank Malaysian Open, the Barclays Singapore Open, the 2013 BMW PGA Championship, the 2020 Toscana Open, two 2023 Challenge Tour events, and the 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open.
European Tour Highlights
Manassero’s five European Tour wins began with the 2010 Castelló Masters Costa Azahar and continued with the 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open, the 2012 Barclays Singapore Open, the 2013 BMW PGA Championship, and the 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open. His most recent victory came in South Africa in March 2024, ending a wait of more than ten years for a European Tour title.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the European Tour, Manassero won the 2020 Toscana Open on the Alps Tour and added two Challenge Tour victories in 2023. These results were key in restoring his playing privileges at the top level and rebuilding his confidence on Tour.
Matteo Manassero Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Manassero grew up in Negrar, in the Province of Verona, and credits his home club Gardagolf Country Club and his early coach Franco Maestroni for shaping his development as a golfer. His family supported his move from junior golf to amateur stardom and ultimately to a professional career on the European Tour.
Personal Life
Manassero is married to Francesca Apollonio. He is based in Verona, Italy, and continues to be affiliated with Gardagolf Country Club as its touring professional.
2025 Season Performance
Manassero enters 2025 having returned to the European Tour and the PGA Tour, building on the momentum of his 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open victory. The win in South Africa ended a long wait for a top-level title and restored his confidence in tournament play. With his playing privileges secure, his focus is on consistency and contending in marquee events.
Key storylines for 2025 include his pursuit of a full European Tour schedule, efforts to climb back inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking, and potential appearances in major championships. His experience in high-pressure situations, including his BMW PGA Championship playoff win, provides a solid foundation for the season ahead.
Heading into the year, Manassero is regarded as a veteran presence in the Italian golf scene and a proven winner at the European Tour level. If his form holds, additional titles and a return to the world’s top tournaments remain realistic goals for the 2025 campaign.