THE TIGERS and Sharks of this world may feel that golf is a part of their destiny, almost a birthright. Yet, watching Costantino Rocca stride down the fairways at Druids Glen yesterday the conviction persisted that the hand of some golfing god, some bizarre exponent of fate, had accomplished its most brazen act.

A decade or so ago, Rocca, a box factory worker in Bergamo, was a man with a dream and little else. Now, he will forever carry the tug of the first Italian to play in a Ryder Cup, and perhaps more significantly, he has earned over Pounds 2 million on the PGA European Tour, having won his card in 1989 through the Challenge Tour.

He wears his emotions on his sleeve. Nobody on the circuit is as expressive, or as popular. There are no airs or graces, either. Four years ago, when the Murphy's Irish Open was held in Mount Juliet, and accommodation was scarce, Rocca, who'd beaten Paul McGinley to win the French Open the previous week, was billeted on the top floor of the local nursing home in Thomastown along with a couple of other players and a sole golf writer, myself.

"I remember it well - 1993," he laughs. "Things have moved on since then." Indeed they have. The following September, Rocca was to display those famous emotions to the world for the first time when, critically, losing to Davis Love in his Ryder Cup singles.

Two years on, the tears of sorrow had turned to ones of joy when he played a key role in helping Europe regain the trophy at Oak Hill and, in between, he'd lost a British Open play-off to John Daly, again revealing his inner self when thumping the hallowed turf of St Andrews with his fists after sinking a 60-footer on the final green to force sudden-death with the Wild Thing.

That is the past. The present sees Rocca attempting to regain the form that enabled him rise to such lofty heights in the golfing world. Yesterday, the 40-year-old shot a two under par 69 (only blighted by a double bogey six at the 18th where he tried to cut a two iron and blocked it into the water to the right of the green).

He hopes the round will act as the catalyst for the rest of the season, particularly with a fight on to claim an automatic place in Seve Ballesteros's team for Valderrama.

Apart from finishing as leading European in the US Masters (fifth), things haven't gone his way so far in 1997. Six missed cuts in 13 tournaments on the European Tour have seen him drop to ninth in the Ryder Cup table. A back injury forced him to withdraw prior to the US Open at Congressional.

"My back is a lot better now. I had an inflammation of the muscle here in my shoulder," he says, pointing to the spot. "I don't know what caused it. I got cold in the first round in Hamburg (the Deutsche-Bank-TPC in the last week in May) and I could only play with pain for over two weeks.

Last week, in the French Open, Rocca made the cut for the first time since his injury and finished in a tie for 18th place. He likes France - where he has won two tour events - and Ireland, too, finishing second to Per-Ulrik Johansson in last season's Smurfit European Open at The K Club.

"I love the people and I love the course," he enthuses. "And my swing is a lot better now, there is no pain. In fact, the only pain I had today was when I dropped two shots on the last." Yet, where other players might moan and groan about such a finish, a jovial laugh is emitted and his arm is playfully wrapped around the interrogator's shoulders.

"I played very well until the 18th, so that is very encouraging for the rest of the tournament. I'm feeling good, and I'm also aware of my Ryder Cup position. If I play well, I can make it. If I don't, I won't."

It is all in his own hands - and a good finish this week, with just seven events, plus the US PGA, remaining, will go a long way.