Stuart Appleby
If the 2008 US Open was the start of Stuart Appleby's slump
, the 2010 Open at Pebble Beach signaled his return to golf's top echelon.
This is the opinion of coach Steve Bann, who was present in West Virginia on Sunday when Appleby finally returned to the winner's circle by shooting the magical score of 59 to claim the Greenbrier Classic title by one shot.
Appleby became the first Australian to break 60 on a major tour, and in one fell swoop silenced critics who thought he was past his use by date at the age of 39.
Appleby was the halfway leader at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines in California, but a horrendous putting performance in the third round shattered his confidence and Bann says that sparked his horror slide.
The 2010 season has not been all smooth sailing, but Appleby at least started the year with a bit of confidence after a couple of strong performances late last year at home, including a runner-up at the Australian Open.
But Bann thinks the five-metre putt he sank to make the cut at the US Open in June was a huge turning point.
He'd just come off missing three cuts in a row and nothing was going right for him.
"At the US Open the wheels started to fall off, and all of a sudden he's got a 15-footer to make the cut and he knew it and he made it," said Bann.
"If he missed that putt at the US Open, he would have missed four straight cuts and not had that chance to shoot that sub-par round on Sunday and finish 29th.
"Since then he's been a different player.
"He just reminded himself he can play as good as anyone in the world."
Appleby admits the first major slump of his career caused some soul searching.
"My career has generally been on a slow and gradual move up since I turned professional," said Appleby, while preparing for this week's World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, where he met wife Ashley 10 years ago.
"Having a quiet period after a number of good years was a test of getting out of a hole.
"I just had to refocus. I was getting pushed out of the majors and the (WGC) events and I wanted to get back to that level.
"I'm certainly more appreciative of my win on Sunday than maybe other wins."
Appleby's nine US Tour victories ranks second among active Australians, only one behind Steve Elkington.
What sets Elkington apart is that he has won a major - the 1995 US PGA Championship.
Appleby wasn't even exempt for next week's PGA Championship until he won on Sunday. One great round changed that. How far it takes him remains to be seen.
Stuart Appleby
By: Rajesh
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