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Manassero going pro: smart or foolish decision?


zeg
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Just saw this on the Masters 2010 headlines:

http://www.majorschampionships.com/m...assero_pro.cfm
Three weeks from now, while his classmates are trudging to high school, Matteo Manassero will be embarking on a learning experience himself. The soon-to-be 17-year-old Italian star is turning professional.

I'm curious what people think about this decision. After Michelle Wie's experience, I'm wondering if it's a wise career move in the long run. I know when I was that age I still needed some time to grow up socially with my peers. I don't see how you're going to get any time for that if you're pursuing a professional career.

I haven't been following pro golf for long, but are there other examples of 16-17 year olds going pro with less controversial results? I suppose there's no experience like Tour experience, so in that regard the sooner you get out, the more time you have to improve. But is it not possible to do that as an amateur? Is there any real difference at his level between his schedule as an amateur and what it'd be as a pro? Maybe he's already spending all his time traveling and playing, so now he can just accept purses? Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts you all have.

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"

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i really do think he is good enough to turn pro but i still think its a daft decision, the guy isnt even 18 yet so i find it way too early for him. Like i heard Wayne Grady say the other day, if he turns pro and then misses a few cuts and gets battered for a while on tour then it could seriously dent his confidence and delay his progress.

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Oof, just noticed my typo in the thread title... is there any way to fix that?

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"

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I think he's ready. He's shown very well when he's been in the field at pro events, and he'll be spending the next few years on the European Tour. He's not going to make the mistake Danny Lee made, and expect to be an immediate factor in America.

In my UnderArmour Links stand bag...

Driver: '07 Burner 9.5° (stiff graphite shaft)
Woods: SasQuatch 17° 4-Wood (stiff graphite shaft)
Hybrid: 4DX Ironwood 20° (stiff graphite shaft)Irons/Wedges: Apex Edge 3-PW, GW, SW (stiff shaft); Carnoustie 60° LWPutter: Rossa AGSI+ Corzina...

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Smart. What I've learned about playing as a pro is that I should have started sooner. The kids got the game now, he's going to go pro eventually. Might as well get his career started as early as possible. Like Chilli Dipper suggests, its not as though he's gonna try to break the ranks of the PGA Tour right away. There are many levels of professional golf. He'll start at the level best suited for him, and work his way up. I don't agree with mcfc_nick's statements about dinging confidence or delaying progress in missing cuts. The kid is in the Masters at 16, I think his golf game is at quite an advanced level. Plus, young or old, nobody makes the cut in every event they enter. I know when I don't perform well, it makes me even more excited to play the next event. Sure it stings for the drive home, but the next day its forgotten.

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Most times I would say no, but if you can make the cut at the Masters at 16, go for it.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Manassero is a very different case to Tryon. Tryon had no amateur record of note. Manassero is the Amateur Champion, and has had a bunch of very good major performances. Tryon has never played in a major.

He also has a very good coach and is not just yet another Leadbetter prodigy who promises much but delivers little.

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585H Ozik Altus
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pretty sure some of the europeans back in the 70's and 80's turned pro at 16 or 17 and had success. I think I remember hearing that Sandy Lyle turned pro when he was 16 or 17.
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European culture is different. Teens across the pond tend to be more grounded and mature than US teens. I think he'll be fine.
THE WEAPONS CACHE..

Titleist 909 D2 9.5 Degree Driver| Titleist 906f4 13.5 degree 3-Wood | Titleist 909 17 & 21 degree hybrid | Titleist AP2 irons
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I think it will comes down to his parents, how good they can keep him grounded and not lose sight of long term goals. Wie's story may have been different/better (or worse) if her parents had made some different decisions.

"You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred." Woody Allen
My regular pasture.

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pretty sure some of the europeans back in the 70's and 80's turned pro at 16 or 17 and had success. I think I remember hearing that Sandy Lyle turned pro when he was 16 or 17.

Yeah, the US way of going to college and turning pro at 21 or so is only a relatively recent development over here, and a lot of good players don't go down that route even if they have the chance.

----------------------------------
909D3 10.5 Matrix Code 6
909F2 15.5 and 18.5 Whiteboard
585H Ozik Altus
MP68 4-P, KBS ZTP 52. 56, 60 KBS DASS Luke DonaldHome club: http://www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/hm/hm.aspx

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Interesting, didn't realize the difference in culture. I can certainly understand that once you're playing competitively in the Masters there's not much to be gained golf-wise from waiting, but it seems like it's rarely the golf part of life that causes the flame-outs of the prodigies. Hopefully he and his parents can keep him grounded (but not in a bunker or hazard!) and he can capitalize on his early start compared to his peers.

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"

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Good luck to him. He and his family have a different set of values and way of thinking, far be it from me to pass judgment. I can only speak for myself, and I would encourage my kids to get an education. If Manassero can do both, great.

Driver: Cobra S2 9.5 Fubuki 73 Stiff | Wood: Titleist 909H 17 Aldila Voodoo Stiff | Irons: Titleist ZB 3-5, ZM 6-PW DG S300 | Wedges: Titleist Vokey SMTC 50.08, 54.11, 60.04 DG S200 | Putter: Scotty Cameron Fastback 1.5 33" | Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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European culture is different. Teens across the pond tend to be more grounded and mature than US teens. I think he'll be fine.

Ill take that as a compliment being 15 from scotland which is in europe

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being 15 from scotland which is in europe

May be one of the funniest things I have ever read....no knock on you Taylor, just the fact that you felt like you had to point out Scotland is part of Europe.

"Getting paired with you is the equivalent to a two-stroke penalty to your playing competitors"  -- Sean O'Hair to Rory Sabbatini (Zurich Classic, 2011)

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After watching Couples and Watson play competitively the last year or so part of my wonders why the hurry?

I can see in baseball or basketball when you can sign a multi million dollar deal out of highschool guranteed. (take it or maybe lose it forever) But not so sure in this sport. But what do I know? LOL

In my SasQuatch carry bag.
909D2 9.5* (Aldila Voodo Shaft)
FT 3W 15* (Fujikura E370 Shaft Stiff Flex)
FT Hybrid 21* Nuetral (Fujikura Fit On M Hybrid Stiff Flex)
FT Hybrid 24* Nuetral (Fujikura Fit On M Hybrid Stiff Flex)Irons: X22 Tour 5 thru PW (True Temper Dynamic Gold S300) 2* upright (also...

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Note: This thread is 4718 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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