Justin Rose peered down from the summit of European golf and found it a sweet and satisfying feeling.
Almost a decade after the Englishman burst on the scene amid a blaze of publicity and teenage adulation, Rose scaled the biggest peak outside of the Major Championships by capturing The European Tour's Order of Merit for the first time.
He cradled the Harry Vardon Trophy, engraved with names of golfing icons past and present, and wondered where it all went right. Victory in the Volvo Masters was a win-win for Rose. By lifting the former in a three-man play-off, he also secured the Order of Merit, finishing ahead of Ernie Els and defending champion Padraig Harrington.
That he achieved such a stunning victory in just 12 tournaments was a feat in itself. Yet Rose has never shirked a challenge and has shown a wonderful maturity to add to his shining talent and generous personality.
Was this really the same Justin Rose who, less than a decade ago, finished fourth in The Open at Royal Birkdale, embarked on a professional career the next day and then proceeded to miss 21 consecutive cuts? His passport said so, but in every other respect, Justin Rose in 2007 is a completely different person to the gangly 17 year old who captivated the world in 1998.
The week before he holed THAT shot at the 72nd hole at Birkale, Rose stood 830th on the Official World Golf Ranking. Today he stands seventh, the leading European and now within striking distance of World Number One, Tiger Woods.
He is top of the Order of Merit, top of the Ryder Cup Points List and would probably be Top of the Pops if he chose to release a record!
Everything, it seems, comes up roses for the likeable young man from Hampshire, via an early upbringing in South Africa. Four victories in 2002 confirmed his potential was close to being realised, once that bizarre run of cuts finally came to an end.
However, his career appeared to stall briefly following the sad death of his father and mentor, Ken, to cancer. Rose decided to try his luck in the United States, married his sweetheart, Kate, and began the long climg back.
This season, he rejoined The European Tour, with immediate results, missing out to Anders Hansen in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in May. He knew that Order of Merit was a long shot at that stage, but everything changed when he made the cut in all four Majors in 2007 - one of only seven players to do so - and came second in the WGC- Brigdestone Invitational.
Now the Vardon Trophy was no longer a pipe-dream. He picked up another second place in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and went into the Volvo Masters in third place behind Els and Harrington.
Rose knew he had to finish above Harrington and to be no lower than third at Valderrama in order to succeed. He achieved both targets with considerable style and panache.
When the dust settled, Rose was top of the class with €2,944,945 with Els second on €2,496,237 and Harrington - the 2006 winner - third with €2,463,742.
Rose averaged an incredible €245,412 from each of his 12 events and victory at Valderrama meant the only time he led the Order of Merit was when that birdie putt dropped on the second play-off hole.
He is the fourth Englishman to win the Order of Merit following Peter Oosterhuis, Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood. A ten year exemption on The European Tour is just one of the many spin-off benefits which - all being well - should include a Ryder Cup debut in Kentucky next September.
As he pointed out: "I think, personally, the Order of Merit has been an amazing achievement for me. It wasn't a goal at the start of the year but it certainly was towards the end!
"Playing well in the Majors and finishing second in Akron in August and winning a big cheque made me realise it was a possibility. I knew I was coming back to The European Tour in September to play four events. I guessed I needed to win one of these tournaments and I've done it today."
Looking to the future, he added: "I'm going to enjoy it and set my goals even higher. I won't change anything - just try to get a tiny bit better. It's the tiny improvements which are going to make the difference at this stage and help me to move onwards and upwards."
Certainly, the upward curve reached a new level at Valderrama and Rose's achievement was put in perspective by George O'Grady, the Chief Executive of The European Tour, who presented the Englishman with the Vardon Trophy.
He said: "You won it in damatic style. We are very proud of you. You are a great champion and are joining some very special names as winner of the Order of Merit."
