Constantino Rocca recommends more European tours in Italy similar to the Sicilian Open
Constantino Rocca, Italy’s most successful golfer, regards the Sicilian Open a major step towards the right direction for the development of golf in the country. The 54-year-old Rocca is the most celebrated golfer in the country and has five European wins to his credit and is best known for his performance in the 1995 Open Championship when he finished second.
"Sicily is an important region for the development of golf in our country, and this tournament comes at the right time. In Sicily you can play golf 12 months a year and we need to promote the region and let people know that,” Rocca said.
The Sicilian open is being played at the picturesque Donnafugata Golf Resort and Spa and is the first event of the season being played in Europe. Italy has produced some high profile players in recent years and is well deserved to host professional tours on the circuit. Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari and the 17-year-old prodigy, Matteo Manassero, are some of the proud Italian golfers of present times.
Rocca hoped that the organizers would also consider bringing the BMW Italian Open as well as another European Tour to the country. "Sponsors want to see more tournaments and to attract more people. We have the facilities, the courses, the weather and some good young players coming through, so we need to promote golf in this way, through tournaments.”
Rocca who started off his career caddying for golfers, won the Caddie Championship in 1978 and turned professional in 1981. After spending a long and successful career on the European Tour he switched over and now plays in the European Seniors Tour. The first Italian to play in the coveted Ryders Cup will also be competing in the Sicilian open. Rocca played the final round of the 1997 Masters Championship with Tiger Woods and finished nine strokes behind him. It was a legendary moment in Woods career. Rocca now runs his own golf academy in Switzerland called the Constantino Rocca Golf Academy and also participates in the European Seniors Tours. He is the winner of 2007 Irish Seniors Open.
Tags: