Nathan Holman was ranked number 318 in the world when he surfaced as the shock winner of the Australian PGA at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.
He triumphed in a three-way play-off last December with American Daniel Varnier 111 and South African Dylan Fritelli.
The first time professional success gave the 24-year-old Victorian two years exemption on the European Tour, and two important starts this year – the British Open at Royal Troon, and the big WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Since December, Holman hasn’t set the golfing world alight in either Abu Dhabi, Qatar or Dubai.
But it’s been a vastly different story in the first two days of the Maybank Championship at the Royal Selangor course in Kuala Lumpur.
Holman shot a career-best and flawless 64 in the first round with seven birdies, and a career second best 65 with seven birdies and a bogey in the second to lead by two shots over Englishman Richard Bland, who has carded 11 birdies.
Great golf on a tough layout from Holman, now ranked 176 in the world, and Bland who is ranked 253.
Both are long and accurate off the tee, both have excellent control of their irons, and both putt like men possessed.
That they have cleared out from a handful of world class golfers says volumes.
Englishman Danny Willett’s on eight-under, another Australian Marcus Fraser and Thai Thongchai Jaidee on seven-under, South African Louis Oosthuizen’s on five-under, and Spaniard Rafael Carbrera-Bello is on four-under, while former world number one Martin Kaymer missed the cut with two-over, as did Miguel Angel Jiminez on five-over.
It will be interesting to see how Nathan Holman hangs on in his lofty status.
He’s been very positive for 36 holes, and has the chance to dramatically improve on his 10th placing on the Road to Dubai table led by Rory McIlroy, Branden Grace, and Willetts who will be a genuine danger over the weekend.
The performances of other Australians in the field with three more on weekend duty – Andrew Dodt with six-under, while Sam Brazel and Kalem Richardson share two-under.
The rest missed the cut at one-under.
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