When the final round of the Australian PGA teed off at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast yesterday, Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby were at 10 under, while Greg Chalmers was way down the pack, seven shots off the pace.
By the end of the day, Chalmers had shot a flawless eight-birdie 64, as both Scott and Ormsby struggled to 71s.
At 11-under,it was a three-way play-off, that became a tournament in itself lasting seven holes.
On paper, it should have been a walk in the park for world number three Scott, against great mate Ormsby ranked 190, and Chalmers 334.
Scott has won 27 tournaments around the world, including the 2013 US Masters, Ormsby won last year’s Indian Open, but Chalmers hasn’t won on the USPGA tour in 365 starts.
And the Scott army was out in force to support, with the 34-year-old trumpeting his adopted state by wearing a maroon shirt.
But the shirt colour was as successful as the maroon Origin jumper, victory wasn’t going to smile on Adam Scott who had at least 10 chances to win, but blew the lot.
That was taking a leaf out of the Greg Norman book, Scott’s idol as a kid.
The hapless Norman is the only golfer in the world to lose all four majors in play-offs.
That pain will be felt forever by his army of supporters.
By comparison, Chalmers not only had to shoot the lights out in regulation to qualify for the decider, but of the seven play-off holes, Chalmers had to play out of five fairways bunkers off the tee, and out of trees once, thanks to his wayward driver.
But he chipped and putted his way to stay in contention.
Ormsby had to sink a birdie 30-footer on the 72nd hole to qualify, yet missed three very gettable putts to blow his chance of winning his biggest tournament.
In the end it was the grit of Chalmers that won through for his second Australian PGA title when Scott paid the ultimate penalty by three-putting.
His putting, and errant wedges, cost Scott the tournament.
If ever there was the perfect example of it’s never over until the fat lady sings, Royal Pines was it.
The least qualified of the three to be crowned 2014 Australian PGA champion was Greg Chalmers.
But his victory was sweet. and hopefully it will translate to first-time success on the USPGA tour.
That’s where it really counts on the CV, and in the bank account.
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