Guido Migliozzi may still be an amateur this week at the Terre dei Consoli Open but a trip to Hazeltine National last weekend already has him aiming big once he joins the paid ranks: a place in The Ryder Cup.
The Italian will turn professional after this week’s tournament at Terre dei Consoli Golf Club and was a star-struck spectator in Minnesota as the Americans prevailed over Team Europe in a cauldron of patriotic noise.
With Rome’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club hosting golf’s greatest team contest in six years’ time, Migliozzi has set his eyes firmly on rising through the professional game in time to book a spot in the showpiece event – citing recent Challenge Tour successes Matthew Fitzpatrick, Brooks Koepka and Thomas Pieters, who all starred at Hazeltine, as examples to follow.
“I got back yesterday and it was an amazing week,” said the 19 year old. “It was a great experience for me to watch the best players in the world, and they played so well.
“I followed Patrick Reed and he was amazing. I followed him against Rory on the Sunday and it was fantastic – I’ve never seen golf like that in all my life, so it was very cool for me and I learned a lot from them.
“The atmosphere was amazing. The crowd was unbelievable – sometimes it was a bit tough for the European players, but that’s The Ryder Cup.
“Marco Simone is my target. 2022, playing The Ryder Cup in Rome, that’s my big goal so I wish to do it, and last week just made me even more excited.
“Matthew Fitzpatrick, just in two years or even less, has gone from the Challenge Tour to playing in The Ryder Cup, Thomas Pieters too, and Brooks Koepka.
“I actually played with Brooks in Montecchia when he won on the Challenge Tour in 2013, so I hope to do what he did, and those other guys have done – seeing it up close made me feel like I’m in touch, and that it’s possible to do it.”
Migliozzi has already shown he is comfortable among the Challenge Tour’s best, securing a top-25 finish at the Montecchia Open by Lyoness and making the cut in Northern Ireland following an opening round of 67.
The teenager is now looking to sign off his amateur career in style as he prepares to tackle the Road to Oman in 2017.
“I hope to play well in my last tournament as an amateur,” he said. “I turn pro after this one and I’m looking forward to having a good full season on the Challenge Tour next year.
Rank amateur 🏌@guidomigliozzi is playing his last event before turning pro at this week's #TDCOpen pic.twitter.com/hLoi65ZdGK
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) October 4, 2016
“If I can play this tournament well I can get a good category for next year – I will have some invites because of my management company, but if I do well this week I can be in a good place for next season.
“This will be my fourth tournament so I can now be a ranked amateur, then I will turn professional and play in Ras Al Khaimah as a pro for the first time.
“I played here 20 days ago so I know the course and it’s tough. It’s long and with windy days it plays very tough, but it’s a good test for every player and we will see who can do their best this week.”
