Baddeley boy makes good for the Lord

US Tour: Appearances can be deceptive. Aaron Baddeley's image has always been more rock star than golfer. He's a snazzy dresser, and one television commercial has him in a sports convertible surrounded by a bevy of beautiful models. That's the marketing persona. The real Aaron Baddeley is a completely different character.

On the 18th green at Hilton Head on Sunday, just seconds before he secured his maiden US Tour win in the Heritage, the 25-year-old Australian, who is a devout Christian, stood watching Jim Furyk attempt to make a 12-foot birdie putt that would likely send the pair into sudden-death. When Furyk missed, Baddeley was faced with a seven-footer for par that would give him a first win in America.

What was on his mind?

"I was actually reciting a Bible verse in my mind, it was 2 Timothy 1:7, which is, 'God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind'. I kept repeating 'power', 'love' and 'a sound mind'. I had a nice read on it, and I said to myself, 'This is for you, Jesus,' and knocked it in."

Baddeley, who aspires some day to becoming a religious minister when his golfing career is finished, shot a one-under 70 to finish at 15 under, a stroke ahead of Furyk (71) and two ahead of Vaughn Taylor (66) and Billy Mayfair (69).

Furyk, the 2003 US Open champion, was seeking his first victory since the Western Open last July.

The victory will likely change Baddeley's career path. He had been a star as an amateur, winning the Australian Open as a 19-year-old, and successfully defended it the following year in his first season as a professional. But he had failed to live up to high expectations since securing a card on the US Tour.

Prior to the Heritage, Baddeley was ranked a lowly 158th in the US Tour's money list and in a fight to keep his card. This win earned him a two-year exemption and propelled him from 199th in the world rankings to 78th. The win gave him a career-best pay cheque, for 778,000.

So, what was the difference between the player who had struggled all season on tour to the one who birdied two of the toughest holes - the 14th was statistically the hardest par three on tour last year and the 15th was the hardest par five - in his back nine on Sunday?

"I think my ball-striking made the difference, in the sense that every time I stepped over the ball I was expecting to hit it straight. I was expecting to make a good shot, and I knew I could trust it . . . instead of being in the rough, trying to scramble."

On Sunday morning, after rising at six o'clock, Baddeley had given the sermon at an ecumenical service on the 18th green at Hilton Head.

"At the service I spoke my testimony. How growing up I wanted to play cricket for a living, didn't want to play golf. And then, at 13, I started playing golf. I had success early, and then struggled for like three or four years.

"I didn't live up to my expectations or probably the expectations of other people. And it was frustrating at times, and it was hard at times. But I really felt that my relationship with the Lord really helped get me through that.

"And then I spoke about how my sport didn't dictate who I was as a person. My golf doesn't have anything to do with who I am, it's my relationship with God that defines who I am.

"And, whether I win or lose, as long as I give it a hundred percent, I'm happy and the Lord is happy."

Baddeley's break-through win has taken a lot longer than many envisaged. "I feel like I've been out here forever . . . it does feel like a long time, but it's definitely been worth the wait. I'm a different player. I'm a different person now."

Indeed, Baddeley considered quitting professional golf in 2000, but actually rediscovered his zest for playing when competing on the Nationwide Tour in 2002, from where he secured his full tour card. Now that he has his first tour win, it would seem he is finally living up to expectations.