Rankin, 38, rammed in a seven-metre birdie putt to win a three-way sudden-death playoff at Binalong on Sunday to become the inaugural World Sand Greens Championship winner.

“This might be the best weekend of my life,” the affable Queenslander said with the broadest of smiles.

“I was already buzzing about the footy, then to have this, I can’t believe it.

“I think I’m going have to change the resume and all the socials to say world champ.

“I think I might even get that `Champ is here’ thing from Muhammad Ali to play when I go and see the boys.”

A prolific winner on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, Rankin began his round in the second-last group at 4-under and two off the lead. He emerged as the likely winner when he leapt to the top before the turn as those in the final group stumbled.

But just as he failed to take advantage of some key scoring opportunities midway through the back nine, Victorian Andrew Kelly caught fire ahead with birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to cap a magnificent course-record 63 to post 9-under.

Momentarily, a Cinderella story involving Yass amateur Robbie Furner appeared a possibility, but his birdie attempt from off the back of the 18th green narrowly missed and he signed for 8-under to the thunderous applause of the huge local gallery.

But Rankin steadied behind and he and playing partner Samuel Slater, also of Queensland, each birdied the 17th to reach 9 and 8-under, respectively.

The powerful Slater hit a huge drive almost 100m left of his target coming up the final regulation hole and it didn’t appear much better when his second could only get back to within 25m of the green.

But needing a birdie to join a possible playoff, Slater pulled off the miracle as his third fell in on the last roll to bring the house down.

Rankin missed what would have been the winning birdie putt, but made no such mistake in the playoff from a similar position minutes later.

“This course is great, it really makes you think and hit some shots that require a bit of imagination which I really like,” Rankin said.

“I had an amazing week out here, I really loved it, everything about the sand greens.

“And to cap the whole thing off by doing that in a playoff, it’s just amazing.”

Furner and Dillon Hart shared fourth one shot back, while Matt Dowling, Adam Brady and Blake Windred finished tied sixth at 7-under.