Manessero on track for Open berth

When the world rankings came out this week 19-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero found himself third reserve for the Open Championship.

But there is another way for the European Tour’s youngest-ever winner to make it to Royal Lytham and that route is still open.

Manassero went into the third round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart today a stroke behind leaders Francesco Molinari and Alexander Noren.

There is one Open spot up for grabs in the tournament and the good news for the Verona teenager is that Molinari and Noren are already exempt and therefore do not need it.

“It’s on my mind – I’d really love to be in The Open,” said Manassero, who played in the event as the youngest-ever British amateur champion at Turnberry three years ago and finished a spectacular 13th.

He shot an eight-under-par 64 yesterday to move into contention for what would be his third Tour title, but even at his tender age it was not the lowest round of his career. That was a 62 at the 2010 Hong Kong Open.

Compatriot Molinari had led after an opening course-record 62, but he then came back to the field with a 70 and Noren’s second-successive 66 meant they both resume on 12 under.

Manassero might have expected to be in The Open by now given that 1998 winner Mark O’Meara, Australian Jason Day and US Open champion Webb Simpson have all withdrawn.

But the championship could still have a 156-strong field – or even 157 - without calling on Americans Ben Crane, Michael Thompson and Manassero because of the number of players who have already booked their places.

They include, of course, world number one Luke Donald and former world number one Martin Kaymer and they both resumed today at nine under and well in the hunt.

Four-major winner Phil Mickelson was hoping to challenge for the title as well after climbing from 123rd to 19th with a 64 – and that after a dismal run of eight successive over-par rounds.

“I’m really glad I added this tournament,” said the left-hander, who was on holiday with his family in Italy when he decided to seek an invitation last Saturday.

“I just needed to play more – I’ve only played three tournaments the last couple of months.

“It’s very helpful to see my game progress so quickly. I’m very lucky because I’ve got a very supportive family and when I was thinking about adding it after missing the cut last week (wife) Amy had the same idea simultaneously.

“It was very important (for his hopes next week) that I have a couple more rounds here.

“Hopefully it will get a little bit nastier because it’s supposed to be some tough weather conditions next week.”

Mickelson will not mind that because it was far from calm and sunny when he finished joint runner-up behind Darren Clarke at Sandwich last July – the best Open display of his long career.

“This is a great place to play the Scottish Open. I thought it was instrumental last year in my finish in the British.”

And that despite finishing only 58th.

“I think the more I play the better it gets. It’s not to the level that I would like yet, but I get closer each day,” he said.