Marcus Fraser has always been a battler and an underdog so it was only fitting he take down major champion Keegan Bradley in the opening round of the WGC Match Play Championship.
Fraser didn’t even begin to take golf seriously until he was 19 and moved to Melbourne from the small border town of Corowa, playing rounds in the Victorian capital in between packing sunglasses at a factory.
Now, the 34-year-old is perhaps just a win or two away from setting up a potential Masters invitation after he beat Bradley 1-up at Dove Mountain.
Despite being the world No.54 and a two-time European Tour winner, Fraser had to introduce himself to the television media after his win, such is his anonymity in the US. But perhaps, he thinks he’ll be more known now.
“For sure,” he said. “We don’t play for as much money on the European Tour, but the fields are just as strong as the PGA Tour.
“The Ryder Cup, over the last 18 years, Europe is in front with seven of nine. The fields every week are strong, and it’s no surprise that there are so many European and international players in the field this week. This is not a PGA Tour event – it’s a world event.”
A few years ago, Fraser might have lost the mental battle in a match like this, where he never trailed by more than a hole but didn’t lead between the third and 16th holes.
The killer moment might have been a lucky hole-out from the fairway for eagle by Bradley on the 10th, but the Australian held mentally firm – not always a strong suit.
“I’m usually quite a negative sort of person most of the time,” Fraser said.
“But family and friends have been very supportive, telling me I deserve to be here and I’m a good player. So it’s great to have support and people to keep you believing in yourself.
“I’ve been working hard on eliminating the negative thoughts. My caddy is great at pulling me into line when I do get a bit negative as it’s something that has let me down in the past.”
Fraser knuckled down and – when on the 17th green, all square with a 29-foot putt for birdie, knowing Bradley had just eight feet left for a birdie of his own – he knew it was his moment.
“I just backed myself,” he said before draining the long putt and watching Bradley miss. “That was the difference. Normally I’d be standing there pretty negative, but I stood there and backed myself.
“I know I’m one of the best putters in the game. My putting stats in Europe and Asia have proved that, sort of the last 10 years.
“Every time I look at a putt, I try and make it.”
Bradley found the desert on 18 and the upset was complete.
Fraser will face Swede Fredrik Jacobson, a man who not only stands in his way for a round-three berth but also of a potential move into the world top 50 and a great chance at a Masters invite.
Fraser must find his way inside the top 50 by April 1 to get to his first Masters, a task made much easier the further he progresses in this elite event.
“That’s the main goal, to try and break that top 50, but you’ve got to play well to do that, so I’ve got a bit of improving to do before I tee it up tomorrow,” Fraser said.