Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello went from agony to ecstasy as he moved into contention at the US Open Championship.
The 26 year old from Gran Canaria had almost not made it to Pebble Beach.
He arrived at Madrid airport only to find his electronic Visa Waiver form didn't allow him to board the plane.
After taking the next available flight to the States in time to reach the famous California venue, he discovered his clubs had gone missing en route.
But that did not stop Cabrera-Bello - who took his first European Tour title in spectacular fashion with a closing 60 at the Austrian Open - shooting a one under 70 to share the first round clubhouse lead with Ian Poulter, KJ Choi and Mike Weir, before ending the day one off the pace.
"I could only dream about a day like this. I maybe imagined in when I was eight or nine years old but never expected something like this. I just wanted to play and get better. Now? I don't expect anything," he admitted.
"I would have been a fool to expect anything coming in here but I played well today. It's my first Major and I want to learn just being here and it's now one shot at a time.
"The worst shot was my second at 18 and I pulled a two iron into the middle of the Pacific. But I was steady for the rest of the round and played smart and didn't put myself in danger."
Of his unfortunate build-up to his first Major Championship, Cabrera-Bello admitted having been somewhat stressed.
He continued: "I got US airways to Philadelphia, but there were no clubs. I waited and waited and they didn't get off the plane. I had qualified and was desperate to get started and I didn't have any clubs. I had to walk the course on Monday with a few wedges I borrowed and my clubs arrived on Tuesday.
"If you lost your concentration for a minute it's going to beat you and hit you very hard. I really tried to stay calm and focused n my task and I think I did that.
"I was told 20 minutes before the flight that it appeared that I was not authorized to fly. It was Saturday morning, the Embassy in Madrid was closed and not open again until Monday and I thought ‘now what?' I got an email soon afterwards clearing me to fly, but I had to stay at my uncle's house in Madrid overnight to get the next available flight on Sunday.
"Right now, finishing my first round with my parents and seeing my name at the top of the leaerboard is as good as it gets. They are Rafael and Emma."
