James Kingston, one of South African golf's genuine "Mr Nice Guys", has waited 19 years for a victory on the European Tour.
On Sunday night, at about 8pm in fading light at Pearl Valley, that elusive win was finally in the bag after the 42-year-old had edged out England's Oliver Wilson by a stroke to capture the SA Open on a rain-delayed final day.
But the tears he shed after his win, which was worth R1.6-million to him, were not only from the relief he felt after all the years of trying, but for the members of his family who were not with him to celebrate the greatest day of his life as a professional golfer.
Kingston's brother Chris died in a car accident in 1989. And his father, also James, passed away in 1995 following a heart attack.
Kingston fought back the tears as he tried to describe what winning his national open meant to him. "I was on the golf course both times that Chris and my dad died. So I'm dedicating this win which is a dream come true to my mother Ina who is with me today," he said.
Born in tiny Ottosdal in the North West province and now a member of Rustenburg Golf Club, Kingston has won nine times on the less glamorous winter swing of the Sunshine Tour, and five times in Asia.
But a victory on South Africa's summer tour in fact the European Tour which this event is part of had always eluded him.
Kingston put all that to rest yesterday with a solid final round. His physical ability to win at this level has never been in doubt.
But there has been a question over his mental toughness. Over the closing holes last night he showed that was no longer a problem.
"Maybe I've learnt from my mistakes in the past," he confessed.
Wilson was second on 285 with Louis Oosthuizen and Garth Mulroy of South Africa, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Kyron Sullivan from Wales tied for third on 287.
"I know I've had my chances over the years to win at this level. But it's never happened. You can't put a price on what this means," he said.
This victory for Kingston is huge. Not only is it worth R1.6m in prizemoney, but it means he has finished No 1 on the 2007 Order of Merit.
This brings with it rich pickings in 2008 like spots in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and a guaranteed $200,000 (about R1.4-million) even if he finishes last, the British Open, the Dunhill Links in Scotland, the British Masters, the Memorial in the US, the Dubai Desert Classic and the American Express-World Championship.
Conservatively, his 71 in fading light last night was worth an extra R2-million to him in addition to the close on R2-million he has earned for topping the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.
Els, who started the day in joint 40th place on eight-under, had the fans buzzing by playing his first seven holes in four under par.
But he bogeyed No 8 and would sign for a 69 and a 293 aggregate for a tie of 16th.