Ryan McGuigan saw a change to his golfing life last February when he moved from carrying Oliver Fisher’s bag to join a young Italian amateur, Matteo Manassero, who had received two early season invites to Abu Dhabi Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic. When Manaserro's coach, Alberto Binaghi, was unavailable for the Dubai event, McGuigan was contacted.
Both caddy and player got on well with Manassero also making the cut.
“He was happy with the job I’d done and said that we would speak again when he turned professional.”
True to his word the Italian called Ryan and both are ending a season in which Manassero has already started to set records - becoming the youngest winner on the European Tour following victory at the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo
This week the Italian he was also named The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year for 2010
Manassero, at 17 years and 188 days old, was a year and 25 days younger than when New Zealand's Danny Lee — while still an amateur — landed the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic in
Australia. As a full European Tour member, Manassero is twelve days younger than Seve Ballesteros when he captured his first of 77 pro Tour wins at the 1974 Campeonato Nacional Para Sub 25.
The Turin-born player won by four strokes yesterday after a final round 67 for a 16-under-par to earn a two-year Tour exemption in just his 10th full Tour event since turning pro at the BMW Italian Open..
After his win in Castello Manassero was fulsome in his praise of McGuigan.
“Ryan and I get on very well together. We are a good team and we have gelled very well in such a short time.
“He's also a really nice guy. He's a very precise guy who wants to do things very well, so that is very important for me; he's very much a big part of my win.”
Ryan first caddied as a teenager working at a couple of Senior British Open's which were held at Royal Portrush and then at the university in Dundee he worked at Kingsbarns in the summer to earn some money. Then, just after he graduated from Dundee University in 2005, he received a call from a friend - Michael Hoey, 2001 Amateur Champion - who asked if he would work for him on the Challenge Tour – which Ryan agreed to do.
That same season Hoey secured his first victory as a professional, and a place on The 2006 European Tour after a win BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria, in Fontana single stroke from Sweden’s Steven Jeppesen – with Ryan on his bag.
A few years ago when Robert Rock decided to get a full time caddie he teamed up with McGuigan and in the following season the Englishman avoided a return to Q School explaining Ryan as a big part of for his success that year.
"Ryan's one of the reasons I'm doing better.”
"I've been struggling to find someone, especially someone who could read the greens, and he's good at that. I'd seen Ryan on tour and thought he was pretty good but didn't think he was available.
But having been through a few employers over the years, McGuigan knows the role fortune plays in the sport as the call from Matteo came just after he had applied to do a Masters in Sports Management at Jordanstown University in Northern Ireland.
Although he had never really considered it as a full-time career, caddying is something he obviously does well, and the reward now is working for one of the hottest prospects in European golf.
“I was just lucky. It was only by word of mouth that I got the job in Dubai,” explained Ryan recently.
“One of my friends was in the right place at the right time. He was able to recommend me as having worked with a young player – Oliver Fisher – and Alberto Binaghi just happened to know who I was.
“When I got the job full time, Matteo had signed for IMG (management company). Guy Kinnings, the European Director of IMG was Oliver Fisher’s manager. I’d known Guy for a few years so that was also a factor for me getting the job.”
“He knew me and knew what I was about and was able to recommend me to Matteo as well.”
Long may the partnership last!
Fact file
DOB: May 27th 1980
Current Attachment: Matteo Manassero
Previous Attachments: Michael Hoey, Robert Rock, Oliver Fisher
Home: Coleraine
Handicap: 3
Golf Club: Castlerock GC
