Marco Dawson was the pure definition of a PGA Tour journeyman in his younger days.
He played in 413 events on the regular tour and the best finish he saw was a runner up in the 1995 Greater Milwaukee Open.
He toiled in anonymity pounding range balls and staying on practice greens until dark.
At age 51, he got his ultimate reward with a victory at the Senior British Open on Sunday.
Dawson pulled a huge upset, getting past senior superstars Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie. He did it by rolling in an 18-foot putt for birdie at the 72nd hole to edge defending champion Langer by a shot and Monty by three.
“Unbelievable,” is how Dawson put it best. That might be an understatement. But his persistence over the years paid off down the stretch. Montgomerie was in firm control through 10 holes, he was three ahead of Dawson. But the door opened when Monty made bogeys at the 11th and 12th while Dawson birdied both to create a four-shot swing.
Langer was making his run. His closing 64 to him to 15-under and was tied with Dawson as the former Florida Southern golfer stared at his 18-footer for the win. He made it for a 64 of his own and a 31 on the back nine of the Sunningdale Golf Club for 64 and a 16-under 264 total.
Dawson proved dreams come true, sometimes you just have to wait a long time.
