After back to back victories on the European Tour and, what's more, world golf's new and exciting 2009 Race to Dubai, it's hard not to believe that Richard Sterne is South African golf's new superstar.
The 27-year-old from Pretoria birdied the first extra hole of a sudden death play-off with Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin at Pearl Valley on Sunday to win the South African Open.
This came just a week after his triumph in the Alfred Dunhill Challenge.
That win at Leopard Creek, incidentally, sealed 2008 Sunshine Order of Merit honours for him with earnings of just over R3,8-million.
Now he's added a further R2,15-million, bringing his seasons earnings to almost R6-million.
And what's more, he also won the 2008 Johannesburg Open back in January. In other words, three European Tour events, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, were held in South Africa in 2008, and he's won them all to record an unprecedented hat-trick.
Sterne revealed that he had been inspired by South Africa's cricket win over Australia.
"Actually, while I was waiting in the clubhouse to see if there was going to be a play-off, I sent an SMS to AB de Villiers - he's a good friend of mine - offering my congratulations. He texted me back and said good luck, and I took that encouragement into the play-off."
After a day of high drama on Sunday with half-a-dozen players all enjoying briefs spells at the top of the leaderboard, Sterne closed with a 66 to set the clubhouse lead at 14-under-par 274.
England's Lee Westwood, the overnight leader, needed to birdie the par-18th to tie Sterne but his putt slipped past the hole as he posted a disappointing 73.
Then came Maybin, needing a birdie to win, but his six-footer for a four horse-shoed out and he was home in 70 to join Sterne on 14 under.
In the play-off, Maybin missed the fairway with his drive en route to a par-five while Sterne - who is proving himself time and again to have the big shot for the big occasion - split the fairway with his drive and hit his approach just right of the green.
From there he nearly holed a delicate chip through a little depression and on to the slick, sun-baked green.
The tap-in was a formality and the huge gallery gave him a standing ovation. But there were other big shots at the death - like his sand-wedge from the fairway at 17 to 2? ft to set up a birdie, and an exquisite sand shot from a greenside bunker at 18 for a closing birdie in regulation that made all the difference in the end.
"I was just trying to get it to 15 feet, but it came out perfect to about three feet. I don't know exactly why, but I seem to be able to pull off the shots that count when I need them. I guess I just believe I can, and I'm very grateful for it."
Among other things, Sterne's victory gets him into next year's Masters.
"You have to be top 50 in the world to make it to Augusta and two weeks ago I was ranked 106th. Now I'm well inside the top 50. After cleaning up in South Africa I'll have to set myself new goals for 2009. I'll have to look at some of the big events overseas. I've played the Masters and I love that golf course so let's make some sort of start there."
Ernie Els, who after a disastrous 77 on day three, shot the lights out yesterday with a day's best 64 to set a target at 13-under 275. Ultimately, that was good enough for a tie for third on 275 with Westwood and 19-year-old Rory McIlroy.
The young Ulsterman started his round in disastrous fashion with two double-bogeys, but quickly made up ground after that with some spectacular shot-making, including an eagle-two at the ninth where he holed his approach from 150m out.
Retief Goosen could have won it if his putter hadn't been stone cold and he shared sixth place with compatriot Branden Grace and English pair Richard Finch and Chris Wood.
US Masters champion Trevor Immelman, after a 67, was one shot further back on 277. After his 77 on Saturday, which included two triple-bogey sevens, hardly anybody believed that Els could make up nine shots and win it. If there was one exception, it was the Big Easy himself.
He produced all of his old magic with a nine-birdie 64 - one of the great rounds of the South African Open, but he couldn't maintain that superb form.