Oliver Wilson has provided one of the feelgood sports stories of 2014, having gone from golfing despair to delight in the space of a week.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
Oliver Wilson has provided one of the feelgood sports stories of 2014, having gone from golfing despair to delight in the space of a week.
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A former Ryder Cup player, he was no longer a member of the European Tour, scratching around to get tournament invites in order to compete.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
A former Ryder Cup player, he was no longer a member of the European Tour, scratching around to get tournament invites in order to compete.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
But it turned around in the space of four glorious days at St. Andrews, as Wilson sealed a one-shot victory ahead of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy -- one of three players tied for second.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
But it turned around in the space of four glorious days at St. Andrews, as Wilson sealed a one-shot victory ahead of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy -- one of three players tied for second.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
It was a tearful reunion with his wife Lauren, who unbeknown to him had flown up to Scotland to watch him secretly on the final day.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
It was a tearful reunion with his wife Lauren, who unbeknown to him had flown up to Scotland to watch him secretly on the final day.
Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
It was Wilson's first European Tour victory in his 228th tournament.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
It was Wilson's first European Tour victory in his 228th tournament.
Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Understandably, he was all smiles afterwards and admitted to having a sore head the morning after his celebrations.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
Understandably, he was all smiles afterwards and admitted to having a sore head the morning after his celebrations.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Wilson joined the European Tour in 2005, but his biggest season came three years later as he lost in a playoff in its flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
Wilson joined the European Tour in 2005, but his biggest season came three years later as he lost in a playoff in its flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
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Wilson and his partner earned a trip to Valhalla that year as he played for Europe in the Ryder Cup, winning one match and losing the other in his debut against the U.S.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
Wilson and his partner earned a trip to Valhalla that year as he played for Europe in the Ryder Cup, winning one match and losing the other in his debut against the U.S.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images/file
Wilson was an unlucky loser for the fourth time in 2008 when he lost a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai. It was his eighth second-placing on the European Tour and he would add another near miss when he tied for second at the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Tearful Wilson breaks his duck —
Wilson was an unlucky loser for the fourth time in 2008 when he lost a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai. It was his eighth second-placing on the European Tour and he would add another near miss when he tied for second at the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images/file