Cinderella Boy.
Totally, absolutely, no doubt about it, that’s exactly what Martin Trainer is. You can now also add the title “PGA Tour winner.”
Trainer came into this week’s opposite-field event — the Puerto Rico Open — with a tie for 28th at the AT&T Pro-Am as the major accomplishment of his rookie season.
The Web.com Tour grad played with poise in the winds Sunday at the Coco Beach Golf Club and two birdies over the final four holes earned him a three-shot victory over a foursome of players including tour veterans Daniel Berger and Johnson Wagner.
Wagner was Trainer’s closest challenger. Both were tied until Wagner bogeyed the 71st hole. Trainer birdied the par five 15th then slammed the door with another at the closing hole.
“I was not composed — inside it was utter turmoil,” Trainer confessed after his break-through win. “I drew on my Web.com experience. It’s been an incredible journey.”
Incredible is correct. A year ago, Trainer had no status on the Web.com Tour. He Monday qualified into the El Bosque Mexico event and won. He went on to perform well enough to earn his PGA Tour card.
“I was just hoping to keep my card,” Trainer said of his season goals.
He showed total cool down the stretch. “I was comfortable enough to make a run this week,” he said.
A run indeed.
A Cinderella run.
