New BMW PGA champion Matteo Manassero has switched his schedule and will play the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in July.
The 20-year-old Italian, who defeated Simon Khan and Scotland’s Marc Warren in a play-off at Wentworth two weeks ago, joins top names like Phil Mickelson and all the leading Scots players including Paul Lawrie and US-based Martin Laird in committing to the final year of three at Castle Stuart near Inverness.
Manassero has enjoyed some success in Scotland before, winning the Silver Medal for top amateur at just 16 in the 2009 Open at Turnberry.
He hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Italians Edoardo Molinari, Scottish Open champion in 2010, and the younger Molinari Francesco, who was only just edged in a play-off by India’s Jeev Milkha Singh in last year’s championship.
Manassero admits the win at Wentworth, the biggest of his young career after three previous tour titles before he was out of his teens, has taken some getting used to.
“It was a big moment for me and has given me a lot of confidence for the rest of the summer,” he said.
“The Scottish Open is one of the biggest events on the schedule and one I would love to win, especially on a links like Castle Stuart.”
The Moray Firth course hosts the championship for the third year before it moves to Royal Aberdeen in 2014, and this year will become the first event in Europe outside the Open and the Ryder Cup to be shown on network US TV, with NBC showing play at primetime in the States.