PASSION IS KEY TO SUCCESS, MATTEO TELLS FUTURE FALCONS 03 - February 2012

Abu Dhabi, UAE. Friday 27 January, 2012: Forget the trophies, fame and prize money, all young golfers need to succeed in golf is passion, according to Italian hotshot, Matteo Manassero.

“Passion is really important,” Matteo told more than 50 schoolchildren attending a golf clinic for Abu Dhabi’s Future Falcons – Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s grassroots golf development programme which is supported by  Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). “That’s what you carry from the beginning all the way through.”

With the world’s greatest golfers in action at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Manassero urged hungry juniors to hit thefairways and see their idols up close, but stressed the Future Falcons should not to be too worried about hitting the ball as hard, or as far, as the pros.

“I was inspired from watching the players and dreamt of being a professional.  Now I’m playing with many of those that I watched,” said Manassero, who is global golf ambassador for Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the Championship organiser. “Try to do the easy things well and don’t rush to be hitting your driver. Start with your higher clubs and get those right first.”

The Future Falcons clinic, held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship aims to encourage participation in the game among national and expatriate schoolchildren.

After showing the young Falcons his warm-up routine and running through the clubs, Matteo took a Q&A session and answered all theyoungsters’ questioners – except one young boy who asked if he could have Matteo’s driver.

“Nice try,” Manassero replied, adding: “But I’ll be needing this tomorrow!”