Sign up for our daily newsletter
Latest news, reviews, analysis and opinion, plus unmissable deals for bunkered subscriptions, events, and our commercial partners.
This time last week, Nate Lashley was packing his bags to go to a Monday qualifying event for the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Seven days later, and despite coming up just short in that qualifier, Lashley is a PGA Tour winner for the first time, bringing his quite remarkable story of heartbreak and heartache full circle.
The 36-year-old, who sneaked into the field at Detroit Golf Club as the first alternate, romped to a six-shot win over fellow Monday qualifier Doc Redman.
As well as the trophy, he also earned a two-year exemption for golf’s most lucrative circuit, a cheque for $1,314,000, a spot in this month’s Open and an invitation to next year’s Masters.
• A champion golfer… at 96 YEARS OLD!
• How Machrihanish GC is bouncing back
He has also enjoyed a considerable rankings boost, leaping from 353rd in the world to 101st.
And yet the fact he was last man in for the tournament isn’t even the most compelling part of his story.
• Uni launches study into women’s golf in Scotland
How about the fact that he turned his back on his dreams of being a professional golfer in 2012 to become an estate agent?
Or the fact that, in 2004, on their way home from watching a then 21-year-old Lashley playing for his University of Arizona golf team, his parents and girlfriend were killed in a plane crash?
![Nate Lashley 2 Nate Lashley 2](https://d23jngptvnttd7.cloudfront.net/2022/11/11134435/nate-lashley-2.jpg)
He has to face despair, doubt and more difficulty than most in his bid to reach the very top of the game. So, now that he’s there, no wonder he describes it as a ‘dream come true’.
“I’ve been through a lot,” said the Nebraskan after completing a wire-to-wire triumph. “It took a lot of years for me to get over my parents’ death, for sure. It was mentally holding me back for a long time.
• Darren Clarke hit with most bizarre penalty ever
• Open champ to pocket record prize money
“I think about them all the time. And thinking about them today, I was getting a little emotional even walking up 18 even before I hit my second shot thinking about my parents, because without them I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
He added: “I’s a career changing event getting a win out here. It gives you job security, it gets you into majors, you have two more years to basically get more comfortable and play better golf. So you really can’t put into words how much this means. It’s just huge for my career.”
Who says nice guys always finish last?
ALL ABOUT THE MASTERS
More Reads
![Image Turnberry green](https://d23jngptvnttd7.cloudfront.net/2023/11/22120334/course-directory.png)
The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland
Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.
Find Courses