Renato Paratore blossoming under Matteo Manassero’s tutelage at Dubai Desert Classic

It must not be too often that Matteo Manassero, 21, acts as mentor on the European Tour, but his teenage compatriot Renato Paratore is putting his lessons to use this week in Dubai.

Renato Paratore is in the top 10 at the Dubai Desert Classic entering Sunday's final round, tied for eighth at 12-under par, eight strokes behind leader Rory McIlroy. David Cannon / Getty Images / JanShow more

DUBAI // It must not be too often that Matteo Manassero acts as chaperone on the European Tour.

Aged 21, the Italian should really still be finding his feet in the professional game, although he did that some years ago, in 2010, when he became the youngest player to triumph on Europe’s main circuit.

He has since racked up another three victories, including the 2013 BMW PGA Championship, the tour’s flagship event. So you could say he entered this season a veritable veteran.

All of which makes him an obvious mentor to Renato Paratore. The teenager has known his lofty compatriot for the past four years, when during his time with the Italian national team, Manassero would break free from the tour and pass on whatever knowledge he had gleaned from life in the spotlight.

RELATED:

The bond has been forged in the early weeks of 2015, too. Having earned playing rights back in November, Paratore is currently contesting his fifth successive European Tour event, at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. He goes into Sunday’s final round tied-eighth, and at one point during Saturday’s play had climbed as high as fifth.

“I’m playing very well,” beamed Paratore after a third-round 70 at Emirates Golf Club. “Playing really solid from tee to green, and also putting good. I’m really happy.”

Manassero would no doubt share in his companion’s delight, for he has played an integral part in the remarkable rise. Since the beginning of the Desert Swing two weeks ago, the two have become thick as thieves, rooming with one another in Abu Dhabi, Doha and now Dubai. It is obviously paying off.

“We’re always together, are really good friends,” Paratore said. “It’s nice. He speaks to me about everything on tour, gives a lot of advice.”

Not that he is ungrateful, but Paratore could probably manage just fine on his own. Following a third-place finish at Q-School, he won his first professional title — the Italian National Championship — a few weeks later, then came home tied-26th in December’s Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa — his tour debut.

In between, he squeezed in his 18th birthday, although the celebrations were rather muted.

“I couldn’t because I was playing at Leopard Creek, but it was really good anyway,” Paratore said. “Because I had such a good tournament.”

There should be plenty more. A stellar amateur career behind him, Paratore always appeared destined for stardom and went into this season with relatively high expectations. However, it has gone even better than expected.

“It has surprised me a little,” he said. “I don’t know why it is. Before the tournaments, I just think about playing well. I’m really happy to make five cuts in a row, and winning the national championship gave me more confidence.

“Matteo tells me to keep calm, to always be focused on course because there can be a lot of struggles. The European Tour is tough.”

Not so this week. While Manassero is an obvious idol, Paratore also holds Rory McIlroy in high regard. Imagine how he must be feeling now, then, beginning Sunday’s final round with only six people between him and the world No 1 and tournament leader.

“Just need to play good and we’ll see,” Paratore said. “For me, it’s also very exciting.”

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE