Manassero off to a flyer

Turin - Teenager Matteo Manassero lived up to the huge expectations on him with a breath-taking start to his Italian Open campaign on Thursday.

His thrilling birdie-eagle-birdie run proved to be the foundation for a first-round six-under-par 66 at Royal Park which took the Italian to within two strokes of leaders Chris Wood and Robert Rock of Britain.

Even though the spectator paths were squelching with mud after heavy rain, Manassero, 18, had a huge gallery to watch him begin his bid to win his home Open and they were not disappointed.

"It was definitely the best start of my career," said an elated Manassero. "It was good to be here with people seeing it."

First he hit a second shot to only six feet, followed it with a chip in for his eagle and then brought the crowd to fever pitch by spearing in a five-iron approach to less than two feet.

"That kind of start works two ways, though," he said. "While it makes you confident it's not easy to follow that. It wasn't my day on the greens really."

The youngster from Verona has made it his ambition to win the tournament in which he launched his professional career 13 months ago and chalk up his third victory in nine months.

He received useful advice from his playing partner Darren Clarke, the 42-year-old Northern Irishman who recently claimed his 13th tour title.

"I'm becoming quite close to Darren and it is good to hear from him how to handle the pressure of trying to win, he's been there many times," Manassero said.

Clarke (71) at first stayed with his young partner as he went to the turn four-under but shanked two shots which cost him three strokes.

The woes of Briton Colin Montgomerie, also playing in their group, continued as he slumped to a 75.

Manassero, ranked 30th in the world, is hoping for a notable US Open debut next week and so now is joint with leader Rock, who earned his start at the Congressional by qualifying last week.

"I was worried the US Open would be a big battle on the greens but I'm suddenly putting really well," said Rock, who played with Wood, after posting his 64. "If I can hold on to that for two weeks it would be nice."

Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and Briton Scott Jamieson shared third place after carding 65s.