Faith leads Baddeley to victory

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Aaron Baddeley began the day in the most perfect place he could possibly imagine, on Harbour Town’s lighthouse closing hole speaking about his Christian faith.

He called on that faith again hours later Sunday on the very same hole, repeating part of a New Testament verse as he stood over the winning 6-foot par putt in the final round of the Verizon Heritage.

“I said, ‘This is for you Jesus,’ and knocked it in,” Baddeley said.

Baddeley won his first PGA Tour title, rallying with two late birdies and finishing off Jim Furyk with a scrambling par on the 18th hole.

Baddeley was tied with Furyk entering the round, had a two-shot lead by the fifth hole, then was down by that many to Furyk after No. 11.

But the 25-year-old Australian proved unflappable, birdieing two of the hardest holes on the PGA Tour – the 14th was statistically the hardest par 3 on tour last year and the 15th was the hardest par 5 – to move in front for good.

Baddeley shot a 1-under 70 to finish at 15 under, a stroke ahead of Furyk (71) and two ahead of Vaughn Taylor (66) and Billy Mayfair (69).

“This is a stepping stone of the big picture,” Baddeley said.

For his golf career, it’s winning majors. For his life, it’s following his faith.

Golf fans might best know Baddeley as the young hotshot in the golf commercial, driving a convertible with young female fans yelling his nickname, “Badds.” It’s an image the first-time winner says he’s not fully comfortable with and one he expects will change over time.

“My scores don’t dictate who I am,” Baddeley said.

Two days earlier, Baddeley closed his second round with an unlikely eagle at the famous lighthouse hole.

“At the 18th hole this morning, he was giving amazing testimony,” said Baddeley’s wife, Richelle. “Ten hours later, he’s holding the trophy. So, it was great.”