The Olympic spotlight will focus on the lone Brazilian golfer in the men’s competition at Reserva Marapendi. Awarded the top Brazilian Sportsman of the Year in 2012 by the Brazilian Olympic Committee, he was born in Santa Cruz do Sul. Was attracted to Southern Africa as a young, aspiring player and won the Zimbabwe Amateur Championship in 1992, the year after winning the second of his back-to-back Brazilian Amateur titles. Turned pro in 1994 and plays predominantly on the Sunshine Tour, where he won on his first start in 1997, the first of 12 titles on that Tour. He has repeated a rich harvest in Southern Africa, with 42 titles to add to four as an amateur. He played all four rounds of the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes and has represented Brazil in two World Cups.