Italian golfer Costantino Rocca unanimously selected as the President PGA of Italy
One of Italy’s most successful golfers, Costantino Rocca has been unanimously elected as the President of the PGA of Italy in a meeting of the board members held, on Tuesday, April 17.
After a blistering career on the mainstream European Tour, Rocca 55 now plays on the European Senior Tour and has won twice on the Senior Tour.
He was the only nominee for the coveted post and has replaced Stefano Betti, bagging all the 322 votes.
Rocca said, "It’s important to try to improve the level of Italian golfers. I want to try to give something back to the game of golf, because it has been very good to me down the years".
"We’re getting there, but more needs to be done. If you see the players coming through in America, the United Kingdom, or Australia, they seem to be more professional".
Rocca has been the sole representative of Italian golf for a considerable period of time when the neighbouring countries like Spain and France were forging their way ahead with players like Seve Ballesteros and many others.
He won five times on the European Tour and his best performance in a major event came in the Open Championship in 1995, where he lost the Playoff to the burly American John Daly.
Rocca was also part of the Ryder Cup European Team in the year 1993.
Meanwhile, addressing the ceremony, Rocca lauded the achievements of the young Italian players Matteo Manassero and the Molinari brothers, and hoped to produce more such players who would take the sport to the next level.
Rocca also admitted that the Italian golfers are in dire need of better coaching and education about the sport.
Starting off as a caddie, Rocca Turned professional in the year 1981 and earned his European Tour card after a whole decade.
He surged to the sixth on the European Tour Order of Merit in the year 1993 after his maiden victory on the European Tour, the Open de Lyon.
His highest finish in the Masters came in the year 1997 when he finished for a joint fifth. Rocca switched over to European Senior Tour after turning 50 and still features in the Senior Tour events.
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