Matteo seeks Ryder Cup boost at Fota

Defending BMW PGA Championship champion Matteo Manassero believes making this year’s European Ryder Cup team would be an amazing achievement and is hoping the Irish Open will help him achieve the feat.

The 21-year-old Italian star has struggled to hit the heights he reached when winning the European Tour’s flagship event a year ago at Wentworth, with a tie for 10th at the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa in January his best result of this season so far.

As he returns to defend his BMW PGA title tomorrow, he has the added incentive of a place on Paul McGinley’s team in late September to spur him on for the summer.