Who's who: Costantino Rocca

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Costantino Rocca

  • Name:

    Costantino Rocca
  • Country:

    Italy
  • Born:

    Dec 4, 1956 in Almenno San Bartolomeo, Bergamo Province, Lombardy, Italy.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Bergamo "L'Albenza" GC
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1981

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1993, '95, '97). Multiple wins on the European Tour (5) and European Senior Tr, plus several other wins in Italy. European Senior Tour Rookie of the Year (2007).

Did you know?

Rocca, one of the best Italian golfers of the modern era, was a 'fan favourite' on the European Tour in the 1990s. He claimed five wins during his time on the Tour, before moving onto the European Senior Tour in 2007.

Most memorably, Rocca sank a 60 foot putt on the final hole in the 1995 Open Championship at St Andrews. This joyously celebrated putt, played through the infamous 'Valley of Sin,' swept him into a playoff against America's John Daly. Of these two charismatic golfers, it was Daly who prevailed by four shots in the four-hole playoff.

Top tournaments won by Costantino Rocca

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

€55,618

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy - Seniors Tour Championship (Nov 8-10; European Senior Tour season-ending event). Second-placed Nick Job (Eng) finished one shot behind Costantino Rocca (Italy), who recorded the second of his two wins on the Tour. [Buckinghamshire GC, Denham, Bucks].

2007
Europe
211 (-5)
€67,500
AIB

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

211 (-5)

Prize money

€67,500

Title sponsor

AIB

Played as the AIB Irish Seniors Open in association with Greenstar & Fáilte Ireland (June 1-3). Second-placed Juan Quirós (Esp) and Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) finished 2 shots behind 50-year-old Costantino Rocca (Italy), who recorded his first European Senior Tour win. [Palmerston House GC, Johnstown, Co. Kildare - at the time known as PGA Natl Ireland].

2007
Awards
€277,783
see Score
Hardy's

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Venue

Score

€277,783

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Hardy's

Rocca (Italy) won the Eurpn Snr Tr 2007 Hardy's Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. He finished second on the Tour's Order of Merit, with earnings of €277,783.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

€58,330

Title sponsor

x

Played as the West of Ireland Golf Classic (Aug 12-15). Second-placed Pádraig Harrington (Ire) finished 2 shots behind Rocca (Italy), who recorded the last of his five European Tour wins. [Galway Bay G&CC, Co.Galway, Ireland].

1997
Europe
266 (-18)
£133,330
Canon

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

£133,330

Title sponsor

Canon

Played as the Canon European Masters (combined with the Swiss Open). Second-placed Scott Henderson (Scot) and Robert Karlsson (Swe) finished 1 shot behind Rocca (Ita). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

1996
Europe
274 (-14)
£166,660
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

£166,660

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo PGA Championship (May 24-27). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) and Paul Lawrie (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Rocca (Italy), who recorded four sub-70 rounds to become the first Italian to win the PGA Championship. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

1993
Europe
267 (-21)
£41,660
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

£41,660

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Open de Lyon (April 1-4). Second-placed Gabriel Hjertstedt (Swe), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Barry Lane (Eng) and Paul McGinley (Ire) finished 6 shots behind first-time European Tour winner Rocca (Italy). [Sangliers course, Lyon GC, Villette d'Anthon, nr Lyon].

1993
Europe
273 (-11)
£83,330
Peugeot

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Rocca, Costantino

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

£83,330

Title sponsor

Peugeot

Played as the Peugeot Open de France. Rocca (Italy) beat Paul McGinley (Ire) at the first playoff hole. [Albatros course, Golf National, Guyancourt, nr Paris].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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