Craig gets ready to enjoy perks

13 April 2012

Craig Perks, one of the most unlikely winners in the history of golf, was today struggling to come to terms with the implications of his shock victory in the Players Championship here.

Perks, a 35-year-old New Zealander, awoke from the celebrations of a two-shot victory over Trinidad's Stephen Ames with a crystal vase trophy beside his bed and a surprisingly rosy future lying in front of him.

"It will take a few days for me to reflect on what I've achieved and what it is going to mean to my career," he said.

The full list of rewards takes some appreciating. For starters, a closing round of 72 for an eightunderpar total of 280, earned him a first-prize cheque for £770,000 - which was over £30,000 more than the total Perks had banked in nine years, mainly spent struggling to make halfway cuts in second and third division tournaments on the pro circuit in the United States.

His maiden US PGA Tour title also brought with it several major benefits - a three-year invitation to the US Masters, a four-year entry to The Open, and guaranteed places in the fields for this summer's US Open and US PGA Championship.

Perks also qualifies to teeup in next January's Mercedes Championship in Hawaii, a tournament to which the strict qualification criteria is victory on this year's US PGA Tour.

The Kiwi can also play on the Tour for the next five years without worrying about losing his membership card as a result of poor form.

All this for a former national table tennis champion who came to the Tournament Players Club standing 202 places behind defending champion Tiger Woods in the world rankings.

Woods, never comfortable with his putter as he finished tied for 14th place, presented Perks with his trophy and summed up the feelings of everyone who had watched a mesmerising display when he exclaimed: "Craig, you're unbelievable!"

Yet Perks could believe it. "I have worked hard ever since I came to this country in 1985," he said. "Winning has taken longer than I would have wanted, but perseverance through all the struggles has finally paid off," said Perks.

British interest in the championship, so promising after the first two rounds, faded as a swirling wind, greens that turned brown and slick-fast, and fatigue all took a toll.

Nick Faldo carded a final round of eight over par 80, 12 shots worse than his score for the opening 18 holes, while Colin Montgomerie blamed poor putting for his 78.

Meanwhile, Spain's Diego Borrego won the Madeira Island Open by one shot from compatriot Ivo Giner.

Giner, also of Spain, missed a four-foot par putt on the last hole to force a play-off and had to settle for a share of second place with Holland's Maarten Lafeber.

MORE ABOUT

Caribbean

Golf

Holiday

Trinidad And Tobago

Craig gets ready to enjoy perks

Read More