Golf: Perks' unbelievable win built on hard work

By ALAN PERROTT

Twelve-year-old Craig Perks would stare at the poster of golf legend Jack Nicklaus on his bedroom wall in Palmerston North and dream of being a professional player himself one day.

Yesterday he went far further - not only a professional but one who beat 48 of the best 50 players the world can offer in dramatic fashion to win The Players Championship - a title Nicklaus won three times - and a purse of $2.47 million.

Defending champion Tiger Woods called it a tremendous victory before handing over the trophy.

"To watch what Craig did, it was unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. Craig is a true gentleman and The Players Championship deserves a champion and Craig is one."

Second-placed Stephen Ames said Perks played the last three holes "the way a champion plays".

After consecutive bogies, Perks arrived at the 16th one shot behind Ames.

Seemingly impervious to the pressure, the 35-year-old came home with an incredible eagle-birdie-par run to become the first newcomer to claim the unofficial "fifth major".

Perks held his sand wedge aloft as his delicate chip out of the long rough behind the 18th green headed for the hole and then pulled his cap over his head when it went in.

"I just hung in there and hung in there," he said at the presentation ceremony.

Perks laughed off his drama-filled day as "the easiest 72 I've ever shot in my life. No, I just hung in there and hung in there ... I was proud to be in this tournament to start with and obviously to be the champion is beyond words".

New Zealand golfing great and former British Open champion Sir Bob Charles said it was the most exciting finish to a tournament he had seen in 50 years.

"I take my hat off to Craig," he said. "His life will change forever now. I just hope he remembers to come back for the New Zealand Open every year."

It took 23 hard years for the former New Zealand youth table tennis representative to turn his dream into reality, but it was only a matter of time, said his mother, Dawne Perks.

"We gave him the poster for Christmas when he was 12, and he was already saying all he wanted to do was play on the American PGA Tour."

"Jack Nicklaus was his idol and to reach that level was his aim in life and he's done it with panache and a lot of guts. I'm just so excited for him. It's absolutely fantastic."

But watching the final three holes was almost too much for her.

"After he bogeyed the 15th I just wanted it to rain so play would end. Then when his final tee shot went into the trees I just burst into tears, I couldn't believe what he'd done. But he came through after years of living off the smell of an oily rag. It's just such a thrill now to think I'm the mum of a child who's now well-known all around the world."

Within hours, the midwife was delivering a baby at Palmerston North Hospital - if it was a boy the mother was going to name the child Craig. It was a girl.

Perks picked up his first golf club at age 10 to play with his late father, Bob.

Two years later he won the B grade competition at the Manawatu Golf Club, ruffling older members who did not appreciate losing to a whippersnapper.

Club professional Ross Morpeth remembers how Perks would forge his mother's signature to wag school so he could practise.

"Craig spent a lot of time down here. He'd go to school to eat his lunch and then come back again. He was just passionate about the game and loved to practise. He would often spend hours practising hitting out of the rough and over or through trees. Craig had an amazing short game very early."

Morpeth described Perks as easygoing and quietly spoken to the point of shyness.

"He doesn't need anything else in life other than his family".

The pair are in regular contact and last year Morpeth reversed their old roles to caddie for his protege at the New Zealand Open.

Perks also shares a lifelong bond with old Manawatu clubmate and fellow PGA pro Grant Waite.

Both went to Palmerston North Boys High School and played in their region's champion rep team and, after winning golf scholarships, they roomed together at Oklahoma University, where Perks was named in the All-American golf team.

"He's been like a brother to me since we were kids," Waite said.

"I'm two years older than him so I've always tried to help Craig along, but he will never play a harder golf course and he won that tournament on his own."