The six-time Major winner had previously met members of the project in July during the Faldo Series South America Championship, at which a number of Japeri youngsters competed.

 

Constructed on land that was earmarked for housing development, Japeri Golf Course is now home to over 100 young golfers who attend twice-weekly lessons taken by four R&A-funded coaches.

 

“We started giving lessons to the children, and realised how seriously they took them and how pleased they felt when they hit a good shot,” said Vicky Whyte, founder of the project. “They would go home laughing and telling golf stories and would return the next day with friends who also wanted to take part.”

 

But the project has also made a social difference to the children of Japeri. Compulsory attendance at school is a basic requirement and, thanks to this, many children’s academic prospects have been transformed. Providing they show the same commitment at school as they do on the golf course, each child will receive a basic food package every month; enough to keep a family going for a couple of weeks.

 

“They get educated about what they should and shouldn’t be eating,” she added. “It’s a very important side of the project.”

 

R&A support for the Japeri Project has is now in its sixth year and totals £45,000 to date. The construction of the nine-hole layout on the outskirts of Rio was also supported by The R&A, with £95,000 awarded to the project between 2002 and 2005. A great deal of local fundraising  

 

“We’re showing them that they’re allowed to have dreams. We’re showing them that there’s a future out there infinitely better than their parents’ reality at the moment,” said Whyte. “Golf is a very healthy sport. It teaches you values, morals and integrity.

 

“If we ever get a champion in Brazil, it’s going to come from here. They’re hungry for it. They don’t have anything else.”