Abu Dhabi Golf’s Manassero remains focused on the present

Joy Chakravarty 14:28 30/04/2014
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  • Enjoying his golf: Matteo Manassero at the HSBC Golf Business Forum in Abu Dhabi.

    Greatly enjoying his day off the golf course and understanding the future direction his chosen profession was taking, Matteo Manassero said attending the HSBC Golf Forum gave him a new perspective of things.

    The 21-year-old Italian, global ambassador of golf in Abu Dhabi, spoke at one of the sessions on using scientific data in improving performance in sports.

    Manassero said: “There is a lot of talking in these couple of days and a lot of interesting comments on the future of the game.

    "Of course, in a good way, or a bad way, I will be the future of the game because I will play it for at least the next 20 years. So, it is really interesting to hear what people are thinking of how the game will evolve.

    “I had this session with (former England cricketer) Ed Smith and the McLaren engineer Geoff McGrath on data analysis and talent, which was very interesting. It was very relevant to me because in golf, this is a very common topic. Even if you have heard it before, you do get something new talking to other people.”

    But interesting as it was, Manassero admitted he wasn’t thinking too much about the future, and instead stay in the present.

    “I have to be honest that I do not spend too much time thinking about the golf industry and where it is heading.

    “Right now, I just love being a part of this. I love being at golf tournaments, and I do think of how much hard work people are putting in behind the scenes. But I am not thinking of how it will be 15 years from now,” Manassero added.

    The four-time champion on the European Tour will be defending his BMW PGA Championship crown in three weeks at Wentworth, and was excited about returning to the Tour’s flagship tournament as the champion.

    “Wentworth was an exciting week to look forward to even before last year, and after last year, it has become more so,” said Manassero.

    “It’s a special place. Right from the drive to the club to the locker rooms, to being a great golf course… I love being there.”

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