It took 18 years for Greg Chalmers’ first PGA TOUR victory. But the Western Australian’s perseverance paid off.

If Greg Chalmers has learned anything in 21 years as a Professional golfer, it’s that this game can change, a lot.

In an inch, or over 210 metres.

For better, or worse.

In July 2016, however, it took 11 days and 7,700 kilometres for Chalmers to go from on top of the world to the bottom of the leaderboard. At the beginning of the month, the Aussie golf veteran claimed his first PGA TOUR title in his 386th start and 18th year on the big stage. Eleven days later, he finished last place at the Open Championship with a 21-over par total of 305 at Royal Troon.

But if you think the 42-year-old is upset about the process, you couldn’t be more wrong. For only eight weeks earlier the Western Australian was getting a bus to a Web.com Tour event in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.

"Two months before, I was down in the Dominican Republic at the Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in May, catching a shuttle bus to the course," laughs Chalmers.

"And there I was at The Open eight weeks later. So I really didn’t care that I came dead last. I was just thrilled to be playing a Major championship in Scotland.

"Granted, I had a terrible final round 85 in pretty bad weather conditions but you know what? Welcome to The Open. That happens when you play poorly in extreme winds on a course with deep pot bunkers.

"I had such a great week with all my family there. Coming last didn’t bother me at all. The very fact I got to go to The Open with the title of ‘winner on the PGA TOUR’ was a victory in my book."

That his maiden Tour victory – the Barracuda Championship – took almost two decades to achieve puzzled many Aussie golf fans. Their primary exposure to the gifted left-hander was watching him win two Emirates Australian Opens and two Australian PGA Championships, with the latter coming in a marathon seven-hole playoff against Adam Scott.

According to the five-time ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia winner, it was about jumping some mental hurdles.

"I don’t think if your game needs to change that much to win in the US as opposed to Australia," says Chalmers. "You just need to get your head around the fact you’re playing against the world’s best golfers every week. And you have to believe you can win against these guys."

So what emotion does one feel after finally winning on golf’s biggest stage?

"Joy and relief. Pure elation," says Chalmers.

"When you’ve had as many starts as I had and not got the job done, you start to question if you have what it takes to get it done when it matters. I’m told that before my victory at the Barracuda, I held the longest winless streak of any active players."

The Royal Fremantle member admits that standing on the par-5 finishing hole of the modified Stableford event with 210m left for his second shot – needing at least a par – was one of the most exhilarating moments of his career. The format awarded eight points for double-eagle, five for eagle and two for birdie, while deducting a point for bogey and three for double-bogey or worse. Chalmers made his eight-foot eagle putt to finish with 43, a six-shot victory against Gary Woodland.

"It made it so much more special to eagle that final hole, after a great second shot on the par-5. It made winning look more comfortable than it probably was," laughs Chalmers.

The reward for his efforts included AU$755,000 in prizemoney, 300 FedEx Cup points, a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR and a spot in The Open Championship in Scotland a fortnight later. But none of that comes close to the biggest perk of his job.

"The best thing about the victory is actually off the course – with my charity, MAXimum Chances," says Chalmers. "My win in Reno [Nevada] helps me to offset the costs of 30 families we help around the Dallas area, where my wife, Nicole, and I live."

MAXimum Chances is a charity Greg and wife Nicole started after their son Max was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at 20 months of age. "At its peak, we were spending quite a lot of money on treatment – but we were fortunate we had it. "Not everyone is so lucky, and that’s where Nicole really thought we could help others to pay for things like weekly speech, behavioural and occupational therapy, as well as all the doctor visits. The bills certainly pile up."

Max Chalmers is now 13, highly intelligent and getting straight-A grades at school. He’s just one of a long list of heartwarming stories MAXimum Chances has been able to contribute to.

"Our first ever client was a 10-year-old who was non-verbal and after three months he said his first word," recalls Chalmers. "That was amazing. As a parent to a child with autism, you revel in small victories – the first time they make eye contact, understand a sarcastic joke or ask you how you are doing because a lot of the social skills don’t come naturally. A lot of the charity’s hard work is done by Nicole because I’m on the road a lot."

Commitments for the Barracuda tournament sponsors prevented Chalmers from celebrating his July 3 victory that Sunday night. Instead, family and friends threw him a "huge party" at his local golf club in Dallas the next day.

"That was a Fourth of July I’ll always remember," says Chalmers. "That was a big night, and a lot of fun. I have a lot of friends who support me regardless of how I play."

A Hero’s Welcome
After a whirlwind season in the US, the man Australians know as ‘Snake’ is eager to tee it up on Aussie soil. For the past few years, however, the summer of golf hasn’t necessarily meant a break from golf’s biggest superstars – but Chalmers is ecstatic. The proud Australian is glad names such as Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Adam Scott will contest the biggest events in his home country.

"I’ll be there for the Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship. I’m looking forward to it," says Chalmers. "It really is fantastic when you get these stars coming down. It’s a long way to come and timing is tough for the guys playing on a long season over here in the US. For someone like Jordan Spieth to come down is a massive boost for the Australian Open. It’s going to be a great event and hopefully we’ll get big crowds out at Royal Sydney and Royal Pines.

"We need to promote our sport because there’s a lot of quality golf being played around the world by Aussies – Scott Hend is winning a bunch, Marcus Fraser has had a win, Marc Leishman is playing great – and they’re just a few."

Superstar Aussie tour players aside, Chalmers is eager to promote golf because he feels the need to give back to a game that has given him so much.

"My favourite moment is at 6.30am, when you’re the only guy on the range hitting balls," says Chalmers. "That to me is yoga; that’s tranquil. When you’re working on your game by yourself at a beautiful time of the day, you can’t help but say to yourself, are you kidding me? This is my job?

"Those moments when you recognise how fortunate you are, I think they’re the coolest."