| NOTES | | | Argentina`s Daniel Vancsik returns to Royal Park this week to defend his
title at the BMW Italian Open. Last year, Vancsik won for the second time on
the European Tour, carding a pair of 65s in the second and final rounds to
cruise to a six-stroke win. Vancsik carded four rounds in the 60s for the
week. He will have to contend with a field that includes five winners from
earlier this season as well as two of the top Danes -- Anders Hansen and
Soren Kjeldsen. They rank 55th and 56th in the world and are two of the
highest ranked players competing this week. Italian teenager Matteo Manassero
is making his professional debut this week. The 2009 British Amateur champion
will be the second-youngest European Tour member in history at 17 years and
17 days old. Manassero will be nine days older than Seve Ballesteros was when
he made his tour debut as a professional. Like Ballesteros, Manassero will
make his pro debut at his country`s national open. Francesco Molinari became
the first Italian to win this event in 26 years when he titled in 2006.
However, he is competing on the PGA Tour this week, while his brother,
Eduardo, will headline the Italian contingent at Royal Park. Golf Channel has
coverage starting at 9:30 a.m. (et) Thursday and Friday, then at 8:00 a.m. on
Saturday and Sunday. The European Tour heads back to Spain next week for a
new event, the Open Calla Millor Mallorca.
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