Nick Dougherty revealed his maiden European Tour title was inspired by a text message from Nick Faldo. The 22-year-old, a graduate of the Nick Faldo Junior Series, held off Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn to win the Singapore Masters at Laguna National.
"He told me to visualise each shot, commit to each shot and be determined with every action I take," said Liverpudlian Dougherty.
"For Nick to text me, and to know he was keeping an eye on me, was great."
Dougherty began Sunday's final round two shots clear of the former seven-time European number one and the Danish Ryder Cup star.
But as Bjorn slipped back, Montgomerie kept up the pressure until the 16th.
There, a Dougherty birdie - courtesy of a free drop from railway sleepers in a bunker - to a Montgomerie bogey took him three strokes clear, a lead he stretched out to five by the end.
"His [Faldo's] whole thing was staying in the moment with my own golf game," said Dougherty.
"I think he was well aware that it would be easy to get carried away, especially if Monty or Thomas had thrown a few birdies at me."
MMIX
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