KNOW YOUR GRADUATE: ALEXANDRE ROCHA
Sentosa, February 25: Starting this week, asiantour.com will focus on the graduates of the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School. This week, we speak to Brazil’s Alexandre Rocha and find out more about the man from Sao Paulo.
What sparked your interest in golf?
My family got me interested in the game. I grew up in a house on a golf course community in Sao Paulo. My grandfather was very involved with golf, he was the founder of the club where I learned to play and he was also the president of the national association.
Coming from Brazil, you must have been a keen footballer rather than golfer at a young age?
I was never keen on football. I started playing golf when I was five. I was never good in football.
How long did it take you to get to single handicap?
When I was 14, I was already a scratch handicapper.
Name your dream fourball?
It’ll be Tom Watson, Barrack Obama, my mother and myself.
What keeps you on top of your game?
I have pretty good work ethics. I like working and I don’t just beat balls aimlessly and have a purpose to it which helps me to improve.
When you are off the golf course, where is the one place that we will likely find you?
Probably at wine bars. If I’m not there, I’ll probably be in my kitchen as I love cooking.
What are your goals in golf?
When I was a kid, I used to think of being a world beater or the best in the world. I had a good career as an amateur and I’ve been a professional for 10 years now. I’ve achieved some things. I’ve played on the European Tour and now on the Asian Tour. My goal is to be as good as my own potential will let me. I would like to have, if nothing more, one season where I can play up to my own potential and see where it takes me.
How do you prepare yourself before a round?
Once I get to the course, I’ll do some stretching in the locker room, have a quick warm-up, hit some balls, hit some chips and bunker shots and then hit some putts and off we go.
Who/What is your inspiration?
I like role models. I’ve always enjoyed watching Tom Watson play well He’s a role model for many different reasons. I’ve always looked up to him.
What is the number one distraction on the golf course for you?
The golf ball! (laughter). It’ll probably be windy conditions, especially when I’m putting as you tend to sway a little bit.
How do you cope with pressure?
When I was younger, I used to cope with it very well. Of late, I’ve not coped with it too well. I’m trying to get back to my comfort level.
If you won a tournament in Asia, how would you celebrate?
I would find myself another player or friend, open up a nice bottle of red wine and smoke a nice cigar.
What are your initial thoughts on the Asian Tour?
I’m familiar with it as I’ve played here in the co-sanctioned events previously and the reason why I wanted to come and play over here was because I knew about it and knew how it was run. It is excellent. The calibre of play is very good and it’s very competitive. These days, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing as there are good players every where. It’s a well run Tour and it’s very competitive.
Do you have any superstition on golf?
No, not at all.
When and what was the last golf equipment that you purchased?
Oh gosh, that was a while back. It was probably before I went to University in America, probably in 1996. That year, I bought the whole lot, clubs, gloves, shoes but after that, nothing at all.
How would you react after a double bogey or worse?
I know that very well. There is usually a curse word in Portuguese and a bad thought but 30 seconds later, I would calm down.
After shooting a 60, what would you do?
I did shoot a 60 once. After that round, I went on to work on my normal routine and prepared for the next day. There is always something you can do better.
About Alexandre Rocha
Country: Brazil
Date of birth: November 21, 1977
Residence: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Family: Married
Turned Pro: 2000
PRO WINS: (8) 2000 San Fernando Open, Brazil, 2001 Chilean Open, 2002 Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Pro-am, 2003 Brasilia DF Open, 2003 Curitiba Open, Brazil, 2003 Club de Campo Open, Brazil, 2004 Little Rock Maverick Tour Classic, US, 2008 Marbella Open, Chile.
AMATEUR WINS: (6) Brazil National Junior Championship 1993 & 1995, Brazil National Championship 1994 & 1997, South American Championship 1992 & 1995.
Graduated from the Mississippi State University in 2000 with a Marketing major. Played on the European Tour in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He is playing in his rookie season on the Asian Tour this year after graduating from Qualifying School.
KNOW YOUR GRADUATE: MARK PURSER
Sentosa, May 22: In this week’s segment of Know your Graduate, asiantour.com speaks to Mark Purser of New Zealand to find out more about his background, goals in golf and the people who are his inspiration.
It has been an impressive start to your rookie season so far and I’m sure it’s also a nice welcome to life on the Asian Tour. What keeps you on top of your game?
Yes, I’m surprised myself! In fact, I was just hoping to make a few cuts but I ended up playing well and getting into contention. I’m having a lot of fun playing on the Asian Tour and feeling very relaxed. I think this is good as it’ll ultimately help me in my game and allow me to perform better.
What sparked your interest in golf?
My father, whom I still feel plays better golf than I do! I used to visit the golf course with him when I was a little boy but only started to play the game when I was in my teens. I was about 18 years old when a group of my friends and I went to the golf course after school and that’s how I slowly caught hooked onto the game.
Name your dream fourball?
Jessica Alba, Bill Gates and my dad.
What keeps you on top of your game?
Probably by staying relaxed. The more relaxed I am, the least I will have to worry about how I will play. I try to put aside any high expectations that I may have on myself. Things will be really different if I can be relaxed as that helps me play better golf.
When you are off the course, where is the one place that we will find you?
Sometimes at the bar, singing and dancing or maybe just hanging out with my girlfriend and friends.
How do you prepare yourself before a round?
I’ve got a fixed exercise routine where I’ll warm up specific muscles and that always takes me about 25 to 30 minutes before I head out to the course. I’ll also try to get to the course half an hour earlier and hit some balls. After that, I’ll try to relax for about 10 to 15 minutes before I tee off. I don’t like to rush too much.
Who / What is your inspiration?
My father (Bryan Purser was a badminton doubles bronze medallist at the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games). I want to go out there and perform as well as he used to.
What is the number one distraction on the golf course for you?
Good-looking women (laughs). But seriously, the only person who gets distracted is myself. Sometimes I tend to lose my concentration during the round and I have to try hard to regain my focus.
How do you cope with pressure?
Reasonably well I think.
If you won a tournament, how would you celebrate?
I would probably celebrate with my friends and as I’m sure I’ll be treated to many rounds of free drinks!
What are the goals in your professional golf career that you would like to achieve before calling it a day?
I would like to be among the top-50 in the world. I guess in everything that we do, we just have to continuously adjust our goals, like for me, break into the top-100 first, followed by the top-50. It’s just like climbing a mountain. You can’t just look at the top but have to try to scale the heights step-by-step.
ABOUT MARK PURSER:
Country: New Zealand
Date of Birth: May 31, 1984
Residence: Auckland
Family: Single
Turned Pro: 2006
Career highlights: Mark has enjoyed an impressive start to his rookie season. The New Zealander, whose father was a badminton doubles bronze medallist at the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games, enjoyed three top-10s in the first three events he played on the Asian Tour. He finished his first event at the season-opening Asian Tour International in tied-seventh and followed that up with a tied-10th place at the Singha Thailand Open. Purser’s best result was at the Sail Open where he posted a tied-fourth finish.