EXCLUSIVE: Costantino Rocca

COSTANTINO ROCCA had already left his mark on the Ryder Cup by the time Valderrama and the 1997 competition ticked round. At The Belfry in 1993 he had become the first Italian to play in the cup, and two years on he played a huge role in wrestling the trophy back.

At Oak Hill in 1995, two months after he almost lifted The Open, the Italian recorded three points from a possible four alongside Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam and, on the Saturday, followed Peter Butler and Nick Faldo into the record books with a spectacular hole-in-one.

With the cup moving to continental Europe and Tiger Woods now part of the visiting team it was always going to be a memorable few days. Just to add to the excitement the talisman, and hero to all European fans, Seve Ballesteros was now at the helm after eight magnificent appearances as a player.

Ballesteros's record-breaking partner Jose Maria Olazabal was back in the fold, at the expense of the unfortunate Miguel Angel Martin, and he and Rocca would be sent out first against the powerful American partnership of Davis Love III and Phil Mickelson.

"I wasn't nervous because I play with a nice friend, a player with a lot of experience," he said. "There is tension for everyone but I wasn't nervous. Every time I play in the Ryder Cup I try to play, especially in the doubles, not just my own game but the game of the other guy. Seve told us to do the best we can and try to play the course. He kept stressing in the fourballs to put the tee shots on the fairway so there would be more chance to win the hole."

The pair stuck to the script and returned winners at the final hole. A defeat, again at the last, followed in the afternoon but Europe had sneaked ahead. The following morning, with Rocca taking a well-earned rest ahead of the foursomes and singles, Seve's men marched four points clear and, when darkness fell, they led 9-4. Rocca and Olazabal returned to put the finishing touches to a 5 and 4 rout of Love III and Couples and Europe took a five-point lead into the singles.

"That was the best we played, I think we made six birdies,” the Italian added.

And so to the singles and a meeting, in the fifth match out, with Woods. The youngster had gathered one-and-a-half points from four outings, the first three with close friend Mark O'Meara before a half alongside Justin Leonard, and Rocca was relishing the clash.

"Tension is very high because you are playing against the number two in the world but Seve and Olly came up to me before I went out and said, the way I can play and the way I was hitting the ball all week, that I have a big chance,” he recalled.

"They told me don't watch him much as he is playing a different game, from the tee he is longer than you but you will hit the second shot first and can put him under pressure.”

The pair had met before, in the final round of the Masters earlier in the year. On that occasion, Rocca had taken a 75 while Woods completed one of the most impressive displays in Major history, finishing up 12 shots clear of the next best. But this Sunday in Spain was different.

"At Augusta I watched him all the time because of the noise when he swung,” he said. "He always made a fizzing noise when he hit the ball, other players don't do that, but with him it was all the time. I was one up at the first, after nine I was four up but I never laid down because I knew enough about Tiger – if you give him a little finger he take your arm.”

There was to be no heroic comeback as the hugely popular Rocca held on for a 4 and 2 victory, still Woods' only singles defeat, as Europe retained the Cup.

"I watched some on television, then I went down to the 17th to see the other guys come in. It was nerve-wracking – that hole adds to the drama. I played it twice but thank God I never arrived there again. You can make an eagle but just as likely make a double.

"It was close after America won three straight points but we had Colin Montgomerie at number 12, a very good competitive player with a strong mind.”

Scott Hoch was conceded, after some gentle persuasion from skipper Ballesteros, a 12-footer for a half at the last and the party could get started. So who led the celebrations?

"Everyone! We celebrated until midnight and even Couples and Love were in with us. I have so many good moments in my career but that point in 97 against Tiger, and to retain the cup, was certainly one of the best."