Matthew Southgate found himself in tears on an 18th green for the second time in six months at the end of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
The 28 year old showed all his emotions when he secured the sixth card at Qualifying School in November at PGA Catalunya Resort and was once again visibly moved after making a birdie on the last to secure fourth place at The K Club.
It has been a rollercoaster ten months for Southgate who had to undergo an operation after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in July but returned to action in September before retaining the playing privileges he had lost in 2012 and 2013.
He had recently started to find his feet again on the European Tour, making his last three cuts, and this week in County Kildare saw him not only secure a career-best finish and the €200,000 cheque that comes with it, but he also played alongside World Number Three Rory McIlroy in front of his home crowd.
Those experiences must have seemed a long way away last summer, and Southgate could hardly put into words how he felt after firing his closing 68.
"It's incredible," he said.
I can't put it into words. I've worked my whole life to be doing things like this, and to do it - I can barely talk about it. I'm choked up about it - Matthew Southgate
"It's a fantastic week. My dad's here and it's been incredible, absolutely incredible.
"I wasn't even in the tournament Monday night. I was still first reserve and when I got the phone call. I thought, 'right, this is a big opportunity'.
"I've been playing great for weeks. Something like this has been coming and I've been working really, really hard at it. I just stuck with my guns, did the stuff I've been working on in practice and it's all paid off.
"My goal for the year was to keep my card and that's just done it there. I'm absolutely thrilled to bits.
"I've heard people for years say, 'just one good week, one good week'. It's hard, you know, you're on The Challenge Tour, or on the Euro Pro Tour, it's very difficult to see where that week is going to come from.
"Absolutely thrilled to bits that I've done that this week and that means a lot to a lot of people, including me, which is great."
McIlroy went on to claim the title with a stunning eagle on the 18th and after playing with the four-time Major Championship winner on Saturday, Southgate is hoping to learn from the experience.
"I think I have the right personality to learn," he said. "I'm very open to learn stuff.
"I like having a chat with good players, like just chatting to Rory on the way around is hugely beneficial, and something that you have to earn. You can't just ring Rory himself.
"And to play in a massive tournament in round three, you have to earn that by playing well, and so I was proud to do that and I think I've learnt a lot from that.
"Hopefully next time I'll come back a touch stronger and contend all the way through to last game Sunday."
