Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo has signed with IMG, the world’s leading sports, fashion and media company, for worldwide management and marketing representation.
Grillo secured his card for the 2012 European Tour season last week at the final stage of Q-School in Girona, Spain, with a 69 to finish in tied eighth position and, at 19 years old, will be the second youngest holder of a full European Tour Card behind Matteo Manassero.
He has enjoyed a stellar amateur career rising up through the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy programme in Florida before turning professional in September. He won numerous titles including the 2009 PING Invitational, 2010 Copa de lasAmericasand 2011 Terra Cotta Invitational and was Two-time First Team Rolex Junior All-American. (2009, 2010)
Entering European Tour Qualifying School for the first time, he fought his way through all three stages, shooting a 62 in the third round of second stage to propel him to Final Stage where a fifth round 65 and final round of 69 saw him finish tied eighth and win his place on the 2012 European Tour.
Grillo, who recently signed up with Callaway, explained, “I am very excited to have won my European Tour card for next year and also to be announcing that I am going to be managed by IMG. Now that I have my playing rights sorted, I want to concentrate on playing great golf while IMG, with all its experience and expertise, look after everything else. I know from my time at IMG Academies that IMG have offices all around the world and represent so many of the best players in the world so I have always hoped that I would be able to sign with IMG one day. IMG is also growing their business inSouth Americawhich is important to me and I hope that I can play a part in that by being successful on the course while they work hard for me off course.”
Clarke Jones, Co-Managing Director of IMG Golf Americas and Global Director of Golf Clients, said: “Emiliano is a wonderfully exciting prospect and we are very happy that he has chosen to work with IMG. He is a charismatic talented young man like a fellow South American that we work with in Camilo Villegas.
“Emiliano has delivered at the first time of asking in securing his European Tour Card in such style and I believe he has a very successful career ahead of him. As we continue to develop our business in South America, we feel sure Emiliano will play a big part in our strategy and will only benefit from the re-introduction of golf into the Olympics in 2016 in Brazil.”
Emiliano ‘s management team will include Jorge Prat, Gorka Guillen, Ben Walter and Kevin Lynch.
IMG www.imgworld.com