The path to a career as a professional golfer has evolved significantly over the past three decades. In the days of Severiano Ballesteros and Miguel Angel Jimenez it was through the caddy ranks. Subsequently, at least in Spain, José María Olazábal was one of the first to hone his game as a globetrotting amateur before turning professional, and then followed by another great figure such as Sergio García.
Today, many promising young amateurs, both from Spain and other parts of Europe and the rest of the world, obtain a university scholarship in the United States, where they can combine the study of a career with intensive golf training and tournaments. Such was the course taken by Jon Rahm and Azahara Muñoz, for example. Meanwhile, other potential young stars of the future have opted not to pursue tertiary education and have taken the plunge as a professional fresh out of high school, or shortly thereafter.
For Tina Mazarino, Norway’s top-ranked amateur, who has been practicing regularly on the Costa del Sol for the past seven years and spoke to Andalucía Golf/España Golf at Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club in February, the choice is clear. When she turns 19 in July 2019 and loses her junior status, she plans to turn professional immediately.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Tina is racking up an impressive tally of amateur accomplishments.
She started playing golf in 2007 at the age of 6, encouraged by her golfer father Per. “I’ve always been very active and played several sports. I tried handball and gymnastics, but they weren’t my thing. When I was 10 (just after scoring her first hole-in-one) I started playing tournaments and that’s when I told my parents I wanted to turn pro and become one of the best in the world.”
In the following years she became junior champion and senior champion in 2011, represented Norway in the 2013 and 2014 Evian Junior Championships, won numerous Junior Tour tournaments and the Under 19 Order of Merit, triumphed in the Norwegian Match Pay Championship when she was only 16 , represented Norway in the European Girls Championship and won the OOM Norges CUP (Norway’s best circuit).
Handicap 1.2, she is currently hoping to be selected as Norway’s representative for this year’s Junior Olympics as she continues to gain experience in junior and open tournaments throughout Europe. For the time being, Tina is ruling out the option of going to college.
“A lot of Norwegians go to college in the U.S., but I’ve always wanted to turn pro and play golf. I can come back if something happens or I want to study later. I think this is my only chance to turn pro and I’m going to try. I want to be good at a young age: it’s my passion.”
Fulfilling that passion is serious business. In addition to his training in Norway and winters practicing on the Costa del Sol, his mother, Beate, is his teacher, giving him lessons at home, he has a professional trainer in Marbella (in addition to his father), a mental trainer and a physical trainer, and enjoys kickboxing in his spare time, if only for the exercise, not the fighting aspect.
At the end of 2017 she competed in Morocco e one of the pre-final stages of the Ladies European Tour (LET) Qualifying School and finished a creditable 48th, being well placed until a mistake in the fourth and final round. “I went there just to see what it’s like and learn from that…. It was a really good experience and I think it will be easier for me next time.”
The next time will be at the end of this year, when she will again seek qualification to play on the LET. Looking ahead, her goal is to try for US LPGA Tour qualification in 2019. “That’s my dream, to play on the LPGA Tour and do well there.” When asked if she aspires to emulate the feats of Norway’s top star, Suzann Pettersen , she laughs and replies, “Yes, definitely, winning majors, being number one in the world. That’s my dream. I want to be the best.
She already has a godmother on the American Tour, the LPGA, in Spain, Beatriz Recari, whose caddie and boyfriend is Norwegian and shares a fitness trainer with Tina. They are in regular contact and Recari sends her congratulatory messages when the young Scandinavian has a good tournament.
Tina and her parents, who rented a house near the Benahavís golf course this winter, say they greatly appreciate receiving support from Los Arqueros. “I play the course almost every day. It’s really good, I like it and it’s a challenge for me. Everyone here is very friendly and welcomes me with open arms.”
In fact, Tina wishes she could spend more time in Spain. “I want to stay here forever,” she assures. “I love it, I really do, especially the weather – the worst days here can be like the good days of the whole summer in Norway!”.
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