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Marty Wilde Jr. - Big Break IV
Marty Wilde Jr., Big Break IV contestant
Courtesy of The Golf Channel, used with permission
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Marty Wilde Jr. - "Big Break IV" Contestant

From The Golf Channel

Personal:
Age: 24
Residence: Datchworth, England
Occupation: Golf Professional
Marital Status/Children: Single/0
Hobbies: Soccer, writing, music, cooking
Nickname: Dude!
Experience:
Home Golf Course: Knebworth Golf Club
Collegiate Golf Experience: University of Nebraska
Profile - Marty Wilde Jr.:
Marty Wilde Jr. hopes to make a name for himself on a different stage than the one on which his father and sister garnered fame during their pop-singing careers.

The only contestant who has never seen a single episode of "The Big Break" is hoping that the series can be the first step to golf stardom.

As the youngest contestant from either team, Marty’s short professional career has been a challenge after a standout junior golfing career. He didn't start playing golf until the age of 14, but by his 16th birthday he regularly was shooting rounds in the high 60s.

His amateur years were highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Daily Telegraph Junior Championships – the largest competition of its kind in the world – which was played in 1997 at Sea Island, Ga. Only the top 14 boys and girls in the United Kingdom were invited to play and Marty was the youngest qualifier to compete. Current European Tour and PGA Tour standout Justin Rose won the event.

He also tried his hand at collegiate golf, traveling to the U.S. to play at the University of Nebraska, while studying sports psychology. Marty says he enjoyed the experience tremendously, but couldn't handle the harsh winters and returned to England in his second year.

Marty Wilde Sr. was a rock 'n; roll star in his native England whose singles "A Teenager in Love" and "Sea of Love" peaked on the U.K. pop charts in the 1950s. He still tours concert halls throughout the country. His sister, Kim Wilde, perhaps was best known for her hit single, "Kids in America," which reached No. 2 on the pop charts in England and was a top-30 hit in the U.S. in 1981.

Tall and slim with spiked hair, Marty says rap is his choice of music, and lists Jay Z, Ludacris, Warren G and 50 Cent as his favorite artists.

Marty says any obstacle he has faced in his life has been self-made, especially in golf. "I put too much pressure on myself and get in my own way at times," he said.

His motivation to be on "The Big Break IV" was to test himself under unusual circumstances and to give him confidence to continue pursuing a career in professional golf. He also hopes to attract someone to offer guidance.

"I don't know if I've given myself the proper chance, but if this doesn't work out, I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

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