It was all too much for unknown 37-year-old Aussie golfer Sam Brazel when he birdied the final hole to win his first tournament, the Hong Kong Open.
He burst into tears.
It was the biggest day of his life, edging out Spain’s Ryder Cupper Rafa Cabrera-Bello by a shot.
Brazel lives with osteitis pubis, an inflammation of the pelvis, and seven years ago he lost his partner to meningitis, so his golfing career has been one huge grind, until yesterday.
But no more languishing on the Asian Tour for the Lismore-born Brazel.
The Hong Kong Open was co-sanctioned by the European Tour, so Brazel is now a fully fledged member of the bigger tour for the next two years.
Little wonder the revelation was too much for him.
It would be fair to ask the question how did he play so well on a tough course with plenty of world class opposition like Masters champion Danny Willett, Olympic Games gold medallist Justin Rose, the eighth-ranked golfer in the world Patrick Reed, and four-time Hong Kong champion Miguel Angel Jimenez?
Brazel’s Asian Tour stats were hardly riveting, with the exception of 314-yard drives.
But his driving accuracy was only 53 per cent, his greens in regulation 61 per cent, his sand saves 50 per cent, and his average score 73.
Yet Brazel carded 66, 66, 67 and 68 on the demanding par 70 layout, with an eagle, 18 birdies, and just seven bogeys, for 13-under.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Cabrera-Bello, who hasn’t missed a cut on the European Tour all year without a victory, finished with 64, 65, 70 and 69 for 12-under.
The two played together at the tail of the field yesterday, with Brazel the standout.
His success capped a useful year for Australian golf.
Jason Day has been world number one for 42 weeks, and hopefully will resume in the New Year after suffering career-threatening back problems, and Adam Scott is world number seven.
Late in the year, two veteran Aussies won on the USPGA Tour to earn their cards for the next two years, while Cameron Smith, Ashley Hall, and Aaron Baddeley earned starts to The Open at Royal Birkdale from the Australian Open.
Not to be outdone, the exciting 20-year-old Curtis Luck will be there as well after winning the coveted US Amateur.
But this day belongs to Sam Brazel, and long may he continue to improve.
He’s toughed it for a decade, and thoroughly deserves his lift in status.
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