Born in a Garage

As most succesful American companies, “Third World” professional golf players were born “in a garage”.

Why do people like Angel “Pato” Cabrera or many others who were born poor are successful professionals? I want to tell you that I took Cabrera’s example cause I have worked for him, played with him and also won a ProAm with him.

First of all, I have to say that not all poor people who practice golf or any other sport will be successful professional players, but there are a lot of examples (Roberto de Vicenzo, Eduardo “Gato” Romero, Ricardo Gonzalez, Andres Romero) that have reached these goal.

Secondly, having to caddie at early age because they have to help their family income is an “advantage”, if I can say so, for these teenagers. They are allowed to play one day a week, mostly Mondays in Argentina, but they are surrounded by golf all week long. Many of these kids, who quit preliminary school, become good players and club members see a future income to their already large bank accounts so they start helping them by giving or lending these small kids used clubs.

Finally, these “poor” players are used to struggle in life and are also used to fight for life since they were born. They use these hard to learn education to succeed as professional golf players; it’s a matter of becoming a golf pro or continue working as caddies or something else in their golf club. Worst case scenario… They continue caddying for food. So, there is “nothing to loose” and a lot to win for these players, unlike amateurs that have to choose between the unknown of becoming a professional golf player or the “secure life” that is starting college as they were taught since kids.