David Micheluzzi had the honour of hitting the first shot of the season back in November but he has spent the last few weeks worrying about the last one.
The Australian arrived at the Genesis Championship 108th in the Race to Dubai Rankings and knowing that only the top 115 would secure category 10 status for next season and his ability to play in the vast bulk of DP World Tour events.
After an opening 67 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, with his card seemingly secure, Micheluzzi spoke candidly in the Green Room about the stresses of being on the bubble and playing for your livelihood, knowing that the job was not yet quite done.
At five over through ten holes in round two, he was all of a sudden in danger of the missed cut that would leave the door ajar for some of those behind him in the Rankings to get past over the weekend, but three birdies in his final five holes steadied the ship and he signed for a 73.
That means the 29-year-old will be able to head home to start his third consecutive DP World Tour season next month and the relief was visible on his face as he spoke ppost-round.
"I think I'm going to get a much better sleep tonight, let's say that," he said. "I'm just glad to have a job next year.
"A lot of emotions. It could have been probably one of the worst rouinds of the year and it's turned out to be one of the best rounds of the year considering my start through ten holes.
"I actually didn't play that badly, I hit one bad shot on 18 off the tee, went out of bounds, but I just two-putted every green for the first 13 holes. Made a one-putt on five which is my 14th and then hit an amazing shot - for me, because my miss is right and with the water all along the right - on seven and holed like a 40-footer to settle the nerves down a little bit. A birdie up the last was sweet.
"I felt like I've been playing solid golf the last three weeks and I just thought if I can put in a really good golf swing for the rest of the round I'll be fine because I know the putter is thereabouts - I know I didn't hole anything but if you hit enough good putts they're going to drop eventually. I'm just glad they did."
