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| Good
going Peppo, once again beats Tiger Woods |
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Article published on the
Italian daily newspaper La stampa
(February 26, 2001) |
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In California, excellent
7Th place for Canonica, the only Italian golfer playing the
American Tour.
Carlo Coscia |
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California has brought good
luck to Emanuele Canonica, called Peppo, only Italian golfer
to have ever gain the card to play at the American Tour. Peppo
placed 7th (-7) at the Nissan Open
at Pacific Palisades beaten by the Australian Robert
Allenby at the end of the most crowded disparity (six
players) in the history of the PGA.
A prestigious result, that could have been even better if the
golfer from Turin, just turned 31 years old, wouldn't have missed
the last hole, missing the historical play off. The enterprise
remains extraordinary, especially considering the rather modest
results obtained at the beginning of the American adventure,
for many reasons complicated and difficult, not to mention the
opponents' merits, rather competitive in the most important
and richest circuit in the world.
Peppo Canonica, besides all, cashed a US $113.900 (around 240
million Italian lira) check, pulling off by two points Tiger
Woods, who earns around 100 billion Italian Lira a year
and whom is considered the best golf players of all times. It
is the second time that he makes it, after last May's Open
in Hamburg, when he placed 2nd
achieving the best result of his carrier, and a price of over
570 million Italian Lira. A great seventh place, dollars in
the bank, a wonderful moral condition and most of all the possibility
to debut during this week at the Doral
in Miami on the famous Blue Monster
without having to pass the qualifications.
Things are beginning to go the right way for Peppo, whom yesterday
expressed his joys and hopes through his web site (www.emanuelecanonica.com).
Internet along with fishing are Canonica's two passions, third
son in a family of virtuosi of the green.
As a matter of fact all of them golfers, his father Dino, instructor
at Stupingi, and both his brothers Gian Vittorio and Alessandro
play golf.
Peppo, married since March to Antonella
whom has given him a boost of confidence in becoming the best
Italian player of the moment, heir of the great Costantino
Rocca, is only 5 ft 4 in tall and possesses a most powerful
drive. With an average of 270 meters, he is the longest shooter
of the European golfers and second in the world behind John
Daly, who shoots golf balls at 280 meters.
During the 1996 Spanish Open
, Peppo hit a 460 meters shot. "I had the wind in my favor
and the hole was downhill" he modestly explains, as if
he was justifying himself. He still withholds the nickname of
"Pocket rocket": again, we attend him in Miami
on the "launching pad". |
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