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Uit de bunker
9 holes - 9 questions
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Costantino Rocca
Handicap : 0
Home course : Golf club Bergamo Costantino Rocca, Italian senior pro and bon vivant of the best kind, ever defeated Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup. He became famous for his monster putt at St Andrews.
Thousands of spectators looked on in amazement to Rocca, holing out an impossible putt. Now he plays on the senior tour and runs the Rocca Golf Academy in his birthplace with his daughter Chiara and son Francesco. ‘Happiness flowed through my body' |
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1. Bergamo
A very peaceful, beautiful and quiet city. I was born and raised there and still live there with my wife and children. Bergamo is forty kilometers east of Milan. The Citta Alto, the old medieval part of Bergamo with the Cathedral is a magical and romantic place. You can also breathe pure air here and be inspired by friendly people.
A very peaceful, beautiful and quiet city. I was born and raised there and still live there with my wife and children. Bergamo is forty kilometers east of Milan. The Citta Alto, the old medieval part of Bergamo with the Cathedral is a magical and romantic place. You can also breathe pure air here and be inspired by friendly people.
2. Valley of Sin
British Open 1995. Sint Andrews has been decisive in my career. I can still feel the excitement when I had to hole an impossible putt. On the eighteenth hole, a short par 4, I said to my caddy, I make a two on this hole. I went for the green with my driver and hit a perfect drive. In my mind I saw the ball roll up the green.
Unfortunately, the ball landed in a divot and stopped abruptly. But also at the chip I still tought, I make a two, so I chip it in. When I fluffed the ball, I only thought one thing: I hole it out. I putted out of the Valley of Sin. When the ball went into the hole, I was delighted with joy.
British Open 1995. Sint Andrews has been decisive in my career. I can still feel the excitement when I had to hole an impossible putt. On the eighteenth hole, a short par 4, I said to my caddy, I make a two on this hole. I went for the green with my driver and hit a perfect drive. In my mind I saw the ball roll up the green.
Unfortunately, the ball landed in a divot and stopped abruptly. But also at the chip I still tought, I make a two, so I chip it in. When I fluffed the ball, I only thought one thing: I hole it out. I putted out of the Valley of Sin. When the ball went into the hole, I was delighted with joy.
3. Cry with happiness
Happiness flowed through my body, I dropped to the floor and could only cry with happiness. Then the play off against John Daly followed. That putt changed my life even though I lost the play off.
Happiness flowed through my body, I dropped to the floor and could only cry with happiness. Then the play off against John Daly followed. That putt changed my life even though I lost the play off.
4. Senior tour
Great to play. I see a lot of golfers that I once played against. You have to keep training and stay in shape. But I like doing that, because my heart is with golf.
Great to play. I see a lot of golfers that I once played against. You have to keep training and stay in shape. But I like doing that, because my heart is with golf.
5. Who do you want to play out of the bunker with
With my daughter Chiara and son Francesco. Chiara is a lovely sweet daughter. She runs the golf academy in Bergamo and is my manager. My son also helps, but he is often away because he plays the Pro Golf Tour. Francesco has a fantastic swing. He works hard to become mentally stronger to get on the tour.
By the way, for most amateurs the bunker shot is the most difficult one. For professionals, the bunker is often better than the rough. My golf hero Seve Ballesteros came out of the bunker with every iron. We have very good golfers in Italy, Francesco Molinari, his brother, Matteo Manassero and Renato Paratore. I hope my Francesco gets that far.
With my daughter Chiara and son Francesco. Chiara is a lovely sweet daughter. She runs the golf academy in Bergamo and is my manager. My son also helps, but he is often away because he plays the Pro Golf Tour. Francesco has a fantastic swing. He works hard to become mentally stronger to get on the tour.
By the way, for most amateurs the bunker shot is the most difficult one. For professionals, the bunker is often better than the rough. My golf hero Seve Ballesteros came out of the bunker with every iron. We have very good golfers in Italy, Francesco Molinari, his brother, Matteo Manassero and Renato Paratore. I hope my Francesco gets that far.
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6. Tiger Woods
A very special man and fantastic golfer. He changed the golf sport. By his way of doing, his attitude. Suddenly a tall dark muscular player entered the course with a huge appearance. In 1997 I beat Tiger Woods 4-2 in the singles at Valderrama. I'm the only European to beat Tiger Wood during the Ryder Cup. That of course remains very special. The headlines: The Italian rock that crushed the tiger. |
'Tiger Woods changed golf' |
7. Golf in Veneto
I promote golf around Venice with a lot of love. Venice is beautiful and there are very attractive golf courses nearby. With Fabrizio Nonis Baker and the chef, we promote golf in Venice and therefore all over Italy. An excellent idea of "Golf in Veneto" to put golf on the map in this way.
I promote golf around Venice with a lot of love. Venice is beautiful and there are very attractive golf courses nearby. With Fabrizio Nonis Baker and the chef, we promote golf in Venice and therefore all over Italy. An excellent idea of "Golf in Veneto" to put golf on the map in this way.
8. Bourgondisch
You can tell by my belly, I really like food and drink. Like most Italians. There is so much good food here. Promoting golf through food is great fun. I give a golf clinic, a talk is held and then there is live cooking. Nice little dishes that golfers can see and eat.
You can tell by my belly, I really like food and drink. Like most Italians. There is so much good food here. Promoting golf through food is great fun. I give a golf clinic, a talk is held and then there is live cooking. Nice little dishes that golfers can see and eat.
9. Mountain house
I have a great love for cooking, it is relaxing for me. My kitchen is a mix of cultures that I have discovered over the years. If I really want to relax, I go to my beautiful house in the mountains. Cooking for my family and some good friends.
I have a great love for cooking, it is relaxing for me. My kitchen is a mix of cultures that I have discovered over the years. If I really want to relax, I go to my beautiful house in the mountains. Cooking for my family and some good friends.
Translation: Ellen Buijn
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