It’s little wonder with two victories in his first 12 months as a professional and a top-50 world ranking that Matteo Manassero admits he’s living a dream.

Matteo Manassero admits he's living a dream ahead of this week's BMW Italian Open

It was at the BMW Italian Open a year ago when Manassero stepped into the play-for-pay ranks.

Who would anticipate that within a few short months the then 17-year old would become the youngest ever winner on the European Tour in capturing the Castellon Masters?

Manassero had virtually wrapped-up his Tour card for 2011 weeks earlier with a third place in the Canon European Masters in Switzerland.

The handsome Verona born Italian ended the year in an impressive 32st place on the Race to Dubai with earnings from his 14 events of Euro  890,402.

What’s more impressive he was still residing at home with his parents and also attending college.

As well, with nearly Euro 1m in prize money Manassero was still not old enough to drink or vote.

Then in February this year, he became the youngest ever player to win two European Tour titles when he captured the Maybank Malaysian Open.

“It’s just amazing what I have achieved in such a short space of time and I do find myself pinching myself at times,” he said.

“It’s like a dream sometimes that I have won two tournaments on the European Tour and here next week I am going to play in a U.S. Open.

“When I turned pro here at the BMW Italian Open last year my own expectation was that I would get my card for next year.

“That was main goal just to make sure I would be playing on the European Tour in 2011 and just develop from there.”

Manassero, who is currently ranked 30th in the world, has no such concerns for some time as his Maybank Malaysian Open win has assured he’s exempt to the end of the 2013 season.

However the teenager with the movie star looks had to swallow a tough pill at last fortnight’s BMW PGA when he crashed from a share of the lead with a round to play before ending in a share of seventh behind Luke Donald.

“Wentworth was a big learning curve for me and also a great experience,” he admitted.

“It was good to find myself in that position after three rounds and while it wasn’t good the way it ended up, I still learnt a lot from the week from playing alongside the first and second in the world.

“I played three days really well and one day not so good but I am sure it will help me when I get into that situation again.

“It’s all about getting used to being in that position and to do it after just a year in professional golf is not always that easy.”

Manassero will play the first two rounds of the BMW Italian Open in the company of Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.

Joining them will be Ryder Cup winning hero Francesco Molinari.

Both Manassero and Molinari will fly by private jet on Sunday night to Maryland ahead of next week’s U.S. Open at the Congressional club.

Molinari at No. 20 in the world is the highest ranked player in the field.