• Open de Andalucia, Round One

Rock & Manassero boost Masters chances

Matteo Manassero fired an eight-under 64 © Getty Images

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Matteo Manassero and Robert Rock made strides towards earning a spot at the Masters during the first day of the Open de Andalucia in Spain.

Both players are currently just outside the top 50 in the world rankings - Manassero 63rd, Rock 56th - and so as things stand will not be teeing it up at Augusta on April 5.

They are running out of time and tournaments before the year's first major - and it was Manassero who set about eliminating any trace of doubt over his participation.

The 18-year-old, already a two-time winner on the European Tour, leads the field on eight-under having fired a round of 64. He played well from tee to green, but it was his work with the putter that made the difference; he had just 24 strokes with the short stick.

Manassero's nearest clubhouse challengers are Eduardo de la Riva and Hennie Otto, both of whom are five-under - although they were later joined by Englishman Anthony Wall and Niclas Fasth, who bogeyed the last to confirm Manassero's three-shot advantage.

Rock looked like he was going to struggle to make the cut as he toiled through the first few holes, and he was one over when he arrived at the sixth. It was a different story from that point onward, however, and he came in with four birdies to settle at three under.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who has contributed to the the prize pot and is helping promote the event, is on the same score as Rock. Jimenez, a Ryder Cup veteran, is currently 16th on the European Points List; the top five will be guaranteed qualifiers for Jose Maria Olazabal's team.

Colin Montgomerie, the most recent Ryder Cup skipper, completed at one-over.

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