Tiger Woods turns fifty tomorrow. And to talk about the greatest golfer of all time, who better than the only Italian and first European to beat him: Costantino Rocca. Bergamasco, sixty-nine years old, Rocca is one of the most influential figures in our golf and was the first Italian to be part of the Ryder Cup. He shared many moments with the American champion, as well as defeating him in the historic Ryder challenge at Valderrama, in 1997. Now supervisor of Federgolf, he tells us about his meeting with Woods and what makes him the “greatest ever”.
Rocca, when did you last meet Tiger Woods?
“In 2010, during the Ryder Cup in Wales. He stopped, got out of the cart and greeted me. This gesture has remained in my heart.”
Do you consider him the greatest of all?
“Absolutely. Not just because of his hits, but because of the way he hits the ball. When I first saw him in the mid-90s, he had incredible power and an extraordinary short game. I told him at the time that if he learned to control his power, he would become unbeatable.”
Did he ever ask her for advice while touring together?
“No, he never did it even though I was 40 and he was 21. He was very intelligent and observed. I remember that during a British Open we played together in the practice round and he changed his approach: he went from the driver to the 4 iron, and from there he learned how he should play.”
Was he already a superstar at the time?
“In 1997 he had already won three US Amateurs, so yes, he was very followed. The fact that he was a black athlete attracted attention, but above all he was a phenomenon on the field.”
In 1997, at the end of the third round of the Augusta Masters, you were second behind Tiger.
“We played together in the final round. That Sunday Tiger, at 21, became the youngest winner in the history of the Masters and wore the green jacket.”
What was it like dealing with the pressure at the Masters?
“Tiger didn’t let himself be distracted, he played his game and the others respected him even more.”
Also in ’97, she challenged Tiger in the Ryder Cup and beat him. Was it your best victory?
“Maybe yes. Against Tiger I tried to play my game. He shot further, but I had an advantage: I always shot the second shot first, putting him under pressure.”
What made Woods different?
“He had no weaknesses. Over time he learned to calibrate his power and control the distance of his shots.”
Woods’ career has been marked by serious injuries.
“He always gave his all. In 2019 he triumphed at the Masters after 2 years out and four back operations. Only a few months earlier many had written him off as finished.”
Woods has won 15 Majors. Will he catch Jack Nicklaus with his 18 Majors?
“If he can get back into shape, he could win a few more Majors, but I don’t think he’ll get back to the levels he had when he was 30. At 50, the sensations change. Maybe he can get there with the Senior tournaments.”
Tiger the predestined has also made headlines for his drug addiction and numerous extramarital affairs.
“When you’re number one in America, and Tiger was for about ten years, you can’t walk around freely. It was difficult for him to live his life. But on the pitch, even under everyone’s eyes, he always stopped to sign autographs.”
Today Tiger trains his son Charlie, who seems promising.
How do you handle the pressure on a young man growing up in the shadow of a giant like Tiger?
“It’s not easy for a 16-year-old boy to withstand that pressure. Few sons of great champions succeed. Tiger’s son must concentrate on his game, without trying to emulate his father.”
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