Thursday January 31, 2008 Herald Sun
Aussie Stuart Deane's career as a pro golfer would have almost gone unnoticed to this point had it not been for an exceptional week in 2006.
A week in which he won a tournament. Not just any tournament, but Donald Trump's tournament. It carried a first prize of $US1million, despite being on the US Pro Golf Tour, a third-tier tour.
"It changed things in a big way," Deane said yesterday at the Victorian PGA pro-am at Sanctuary Lakes. "I bought a new Nissan sports car and a golf cart, becuase I live near a golf course and I use it to get to the course and back."
Deane also probably used it to pay a few bills, because, until the windfall, life on the pro tour had been tough.
The Brisbane-born 36-year-old walked away from touring in 2001 and became a club pro in Texas, where he has lived for the past decade with his American wife.
Winning the Trump Million Dollar Invitational - an event limited to aspiring young pros and played at the Trump International Golf Club on Canouan Island, in the Grenadines - opened some doors and helped Deane gain five US PGA Tour starts last year.
He nearly gained entry to the US Open, but missed by one spot.
"I was the first alternate when play started, I got there at 6am hoping somebody would pull out for some reason, and hung around all day, but nobody pulled out and I missed playing," Deane said.
