In a tournament filled with twists and turns, Elkington’s clutch putting and steely nerves helped him claim his sole major title in spectacular fashion.

The 77th edition of the PGA Championship delivered high drama, as the world’s best gathered in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Heading into the final round, South Africa’s Ernie Els held a commanding six-shot lead after posting a record-breaking 197 over 54 holes, the lowest score recorded in a major at the time. However, a closing-round 72 (+1) ultimately left him two strokes shy of the lead, tied for third with Jeff Maggert.

Elkington, hailing from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, showed incredible determination as he mounted his comeback. His final-round brilliance put him in contention, but he had to wait anxiously as Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, with birdies at 16 and 17, made a stunning 18-foot putt on the final hole to force a sudden-death playoff.

The playoff was set for the par-4 18th hole, a challenging finisher with a blind tee shot over a hill. Montgomerie, opting for a cart ride back to the tee, took a different approach to Elkington, who chose to walk, relying on his experience from previous playoffs when arriving with too much thinking and downtime. Both players found the fairway and reached the green in regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Elkington faced a daunting 20-foot birdie putt, one which would decide his fate. With unshakable focus, he rolled the ball smoothly into the heart of the cup, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Montgomerie, just slightly closer, had a chance to extend the playoff, but watched in agony as his putt slid past the hole. With that, Elkington secured the Wanamaker Trophy, becoming the fourth Australian-born player to win the PGA Championship, joining Jim Ferrier (1947), David Graham (1979) and Wayne Grady (1990). The next to achieve the feat would be Jason Day in 2015.

Though this would remain his only major championship victory, Elkington’s career was far from one-dimensional. He amassed 10 PGA Tour wins, including two triumphs at The Players Championship (1991, 1997), cementing his reputation as one of Australia’s greatest golfers.