European Tour Insider: Viva Italia -- its golfers, that is

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Matteo Manassero, 17, will be making his first start as a professional this week. (Lecka/Getty Images)

Football, Ferraris, gelato and the Roman Empire ... Italy has graced the world with so much. Golf, however, is hardly synonymous with the country where a much bigger round ball is king.

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The Azzurri have won soccer's World Cup on four occasions. Golf's World Cup has been claimed by the nation only once, though.

That was last November when the Molinari brothers -- Francesco and Edoardo -- triumphed at Mission Hills in China. Italian golf is enjoying an unprecedented peak.

As Francesco said on winning in Shenzhen: "I think it will be big, because even for somebody who doesn't know golf, it's a World Cup.... and hopefully we will help the game to grow a little bit more."

We'll see the truth of it this week at the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

FORZA TORINO

The event was first staged back in 1925. Italy has a wealth of great golf courses and a fine golfing tradition, despite the fact that it's been a relatively minor sport, and the Royal Park i Roveri in Turin is an exceptionally beautiful track.

Billy Casper, Bernhard Langer, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle and Greg Norman are former champions, and the event has always been well-supported. It's only in recent years that it's drawn the crowds in greater numbers, though.

It helped that Francesco Molinari won in 2006 with fans charging on to the 18th green and clambering through bunkers to join the celebration, and now the emergence of his brother Edoardo as one of the stars of world golf has ensured an increased national pride.

Their progress, though, led to a dilemma. Discussions between the two brothers, their management company and the Italian Golf Federation have led to them going their separate ways. Edoardo -- world ranked 36rth -- plays in Turin; Francesco -- world No. 41 -- goes to THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

"It was really hard, because nobody wants to miss their home event," said Francesco, "especially when it's in your home town with a lot of friends and family coming. But for my future career, I thought it would be better to play TPC. I have played five Italian Opens already as a professional, but it's a huge experience to go to play in the United States."

Edoardo has had a long-existing commitment to play at home. The former U.S. Amateur champion feels both honored and duty-bound to attend. He has, of course, enjoyed a lightning rise to the world's elite over the past 12 months, climbing from outside the top 650 at the start of 2009 with a string of successes on Europe's Challenge Tour and at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan. This is a thank you to Italian golf's heirarchy for its support.

Incidentally, his reputation is such now that bookmakers reckon he's the favorite to win.

MARVELLOUS MATTEO

There be plenty of money being punted on Matteo Manassero, too, and for the first time in his young career he can earn some money, too.

At the age of 17 years and 17 days, he will play his first event as a professional. He is the second-youngest ever Tour member after Seve Ballesteros.

Manassero is used to breaking records, though. He was the youngest winner of the British Amateur, and subsequently the youngest Silver Medal winner at the Open Championship after his glittering performance alongside Tom Watson and Stewart Cink at Turnberry.

Manassero is also the youngest player to make the cut at the Masters. Last year in Turin he was 25th, shooting a closing 67. He'll be expected to be better still this time around. The invitations are bound to come thick and fast for such an exciting and appealing talent.

HOME HEROES

There is something special about seeing players thrive at home -- no matter where in the world. On the European Tour this season Charl Schwartzel has already shone in South Africa (twice), and now Alvaro Quiros has won the Spanish Open.

It lifts an event when crowds can get behind one of their own, and you can see how much more a victory means to the recipient.

Quiros was hardly at his best in Seville and was very self-critical, but stayed firm throughout the final day before winning in a playoff.

"After a Ryder Cup, a World Cup and of course winning a major, it's the greatest achievement", he said, though Quiros admits he wasn't well-versed in the history of the tournament which dates back to 1912.

"We didn't have chances to watch golf on TV when we were young."

No time for celebrating much either. Like Francesco Molinari, Quiros was swiftly away to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

ANOTHER GARCIA

There are wonderful stories of progress throughout golf. Few though are as remarkable as the back story for Sebi Garcia.

His mother is English, so you may see his full name written as Sebastian Garcia-Grout, but with Seve and Sergio in mind, there's a ring to Sebi Garcia.

With all the justifiable hoopla surrounding Ryo Ishikawa's round of 58, it's worth noting that Sebi shot the same score in the Spanish Championship in Murcia in December.

He was one of the frontrunners at the Open de Espana in Seville, only one off the halfway lead. That was quite a story in itself for a player ranked outside the world's top thousand, then it came to light that he has spina bifida.

It's not something he volunteers. He's a golfer, he's overcome obstacles and he wants to talk about golf and ambitions, but it's a condition that he has to be cautious about and has kept in check with Pilates.

He may have finished 46th to Quiros, but Garcia is a true winner.