Hilton Head, SC …

There was a time nearly two decades ago when new Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and Australia’s Aaron Baddeley had very much in common.

Garcia is one year and one month older than Baddeley but at each end of 1999 and then also in the first year of a new Century the Spanish amateur and his Australian amateur compatriot set the golf world alight.

In April that year, Garcia accepted the “Low Amateur” award at the Masters while boyhood idol, Jose Maria Olazabal was fitted with a second Masters green jacket.

Later that year in November, a then 18-year old Baddeley stepped forward to accept the Joe Kirkwood trophy in capturing the Australian Open trophy and in the process becoming the first amateur in 39 years since Bruce Devlin to win the coveted title.

Some seven months later in July, 2000 Garcia captured the Irish Open in just his fourth European Tour event.

April 1999 and Sergio Garcia accepts the Low Amateur award at Augusta National as Jose Maria Olazabal wins the Masters.

Four months on and Baddeley teed-up at Kingston Heath and accomplished something never ever achieved in the then 96-year history of the Australian Open and that was to successfully defend his title as a professional.

“Sergio and I sort of had much in common back in 1999 and then into 2000 when I remember he was invited to come out and contest the Australian Masters,” said Baddeley.

“He and I earlier that year each played also in the 2000 Masters though I was still an amateur and Sergio had turned pro after being the low amateur in the 1999 Masters.

“We didn’t play a whole lot of golf together or did we hang out but he and I were among the top amateurs at the time even though there was no amateur ranking as there is now.

“I also watched the last few holes on Sunday from the Masters and he played well, and also he is in good place in his life now and he seemed to be at more peace on the golf course and that came through on Sunday at Augusta.

“So I was like so many others and very excited to see him finally win that first Major.”

The now famed photo of Aaron Baddeley in the locker room and clutching the Australian Open after his stunning victory in 1999 as a then amateur and with his parents in the background.

However, Baddeley’s more immediate thoughts are on this week’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in South Carolina and an event he captured in 2006 as his break through PGA Tour title in denying crowd favourite, Jim Furyk to win by a stroke.

It was the first of now four PGA wins for the now 36-year old.

“It’s always very special returning to a course and a venue you have won before and this year is no exception,” he said.

“Though in saying that it’s 11 years ago but then the memories are still very strong and I have had some good finishes here since then.

“It is a good shot-making course and that seems to suit my game as you have to hit it straight on some holes whereas on others you have to shape the ball around trees, and you will use every club in your bag.

“It is also a course very much where you have to think your around”.

Asked what he did well that week after the 2006 Masters, Baddeley singled out a great back nine on day one of the event that set him on his winning ways.

“I had a very slow start on Thursday but then shot a 30 on the back nine in a round of 66 that got the ball rolling,” he recalled.

“My game seemed to just get better as the week went on as I then shot a second round 67, a 66 on Saturday where I think I missed a few fairways ahead of shooting a final round 70.

“I had not qualified for the Masters that year but it also the Saturday was the occasion of our first wedding anniversary and that was pretty cool.

“So, in many ways the win, and my first win on the Tour, was a really nice first anniversary wedding present for Richelle and myself”.

And every year Baddeley has returned to this wonderful sun-splashed corner of South Carolina he says he warms to rekindling memories of some of the shots he played all of 11 years ago.

“It is always nice to recall when I walk around the course shots that I would have played back then,” he said.

“But then there have been so many good shots I played as I also finished second here another year and I also have had a number of top-10s so it is naturally one of my favourite venues to return to each year.

“In saying that, and now 11 years on, my enthusiasm is still just as strong as it was all of those 11 years ago”.