Steve Fisk, a 28-year-old golfer from Stockbridge, Georgia, 30 minutes drive southeast of Atlanta, had a breakthrough victory Sunday at the Country Club of Jackson, winning his first PGA victory and a million dollars.
Edith, his wife of one year was most excited, nearly tackling him on the 18th green just after Fisk sank his winning putt, a four footer for birdie after a precision approach shot. He only needed par to win. She wrapped her legs around his upper torso and gave him a big long kiss. It was close to a "get a room" moment.
This was quite a contrast to the previous two hours when Fisk showed zero emotion on the back nine. Not a smile. Not a frown. Not a word. He walked alone. No chit chatting with his competitor. But after sinking his final putt to win, all that pent up emotion came rushing out. It made you realize just how important such a victory meant.
Despite being a college golfing star at Georgia Southern, Fisk had only won once on the Korn Ferry tour. He battled a rare hand injury that almost ended his professional career, sending him back to Georgia Southern to coach.
Fisk went through extensive surgery, ground it out on the Korn Ferry sub tour and made it to the PGA. Now he is a PGA tournament winner. It's exciting to watch.
Now he has a two year PGA tour exemption and an invitation to play at the PGA Championship, The Players Championship and a host of other big tournaments. He is own his way. It was a life defining day for Steven Fisk.
It's got to be pretty discouraging when you are one stroke behind and birdie 13, 14, 15 and 16 and still not win the tournament. But that's what happened Sunday to South African Garrick Higgo.
Meanwhile, winner Steven Fisk birdied the last three holes to win. Now that's closing it out in style.
Both players are average height and stocky. Both players showed little emotion, concentrating totally on the business of closing out the round.
Neither one choked. Fisk just won it. In retrospect, a pulled fairway wood on the par 5 number 11 cost Fisk the tournament. Stuck in the fescue followed by a missed short putt, Higgo made bogey while Fisk birdied. That was the difference in the match. Just one pulled shot by Higgo, his only bad shot on the back nine.
Fisk ended the round 24 under par. Higgo was 22 under .
On the number one handicap hole, number 16, Fisk sank a 20-foot birdie putt. The crowd roared. Then Higgo sank a 15-foot birdie putt. As the ball dropped in the hole, Higgo tapped his finger on his lips, as if to say, "Don't start celebrating a Fisk victory yet. It's not yet over." But it was not to be.
Higgo, 26, is ranked 137 in the world while Fisk is ranked 183. Higgo has won on the European tour and is a protege of famed South African golfing legend Gary Player. He didn't win Sunday but he has a bright future ahead.
