Golf: Smail chokes but title was his by then

The only time David Smail choked at The Grange yesterday was during his victory speech on the 18th green.

The implacable Hamilton golfer struggled for words as he thanked family and friends, shortly after his first professional victory.

Smail the Conqueror. The New Zealand Open title was his, and Smail was surrounded by familiar faces from the Waikato communities from which he and his wife, Sheree Higgens - a top golfer - come.

Among the travelling fans were Higgens' parents, who had never been to any of Smail's tournaments.

They should have been back on their dairy farm.

But the Higgens' neighbours, who are expecting the birth of a child within a day or so, insisted that they take over the milking duties so the Higgens could make it to Papatoetoe.

Smail's parents were also at The Grange, as well as uncles, cousins, neighbours and friends.

No wonder Smail said this was the place of places to take his first victory.

It is a far cry from the life he leads for much of the year on the Japanese and Australian circuits, although he is hardly alone there.

Sheree and their two-year-old son, Charlie, always travel with him and they were joined 10 weeks ago by the family's latest addition, Emily.

In Japan, they stay at their apartment in Narita on Sundays and Mondays, but then it's back on the road, either driving, flying or taking the bullet train to the next tournament.

Their accommodation is not usually big enough to swing a golf club in.

So the Greenlane motel they stayed in the past week was absolute luxury.

"I said to David, if we always had a place like this to stay in you might do even better," said Sheree, who won two professional tournaments in Japan before retiring to be a travelling homemaker.

Higgens was more than just a travelling companion, though.

Until she was six months pregnant with Emily, she continued to caddy for her husband.

John Bennett, a long-time friend and best man at their wedding, has taken over now and was on the bag at The Grange yesterday.

So what is the secret to Smail's success?

The woman who should know best puts it down to hard work.

"He just loves to practise," she said.

"He would do even more if I didn't make sure he spent a bit more time with the family.

"He works much harder than I ever did."

Despite a painful back injury, Smail never looked like missing after going into the final round with a three-stroke lead.

Whenever there was a sniff of trouble, he produced the telling mid-range putt to save his par.

There was also a magical approach shot on the par-five sixth for an eagle.

And he produced an extraordinary shot over trees on the third to turn trouble into triumph, although he missed a fairly short putt for birdie.

And all the while his playing partner, Brad Andrews, unravelled - the Queenslander either went bush or stabbed at short putts which became more short putts.

It was a day to forget for Andrews, but one the 30-year-old Smail will never forget.

Since turning professional in 1992, he has never led going into the final round, although he finished third in the 1996 Australian Open and the 1998 Japan PGA.

Smail thought his lead was two shots going up the final fairway when he drove into trees.

But he arrived on the green to find he held a four-shot advantage.

The final double bogey didn't matter.

"I've been a lot more nervous before," said Smail, who does not have a coach, instead relying on self-analysis using video.

"I wasn't nervous at all until the final hole."

At the prizegiving ceremony on the 18th, young Charlie ran to his father's arms as Sheree shed a few tears.

Higgens said it was a day her husband had dreamed of for many years.

"I'm a bit emotional," she said.

"He deserves it. He's such a trier.

"He just won't give in."