How does one defeat the best player in the world?
Simply play a solid final nine.
That's what Englishman Oliver Wilson did in winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this past weekend.
Wilson registered nine runner-up performances on the European Tour between 2006 and 2009, while attaining a top 50 world ranking and playing in the 2008 Ryder Cup.
Unlike the top-ranked golfer in the world, Rory McIlroy, Wilson didn't play the previous week for Europe in the premier biennial match play tournament.
Meanwhile, Wilson went into the Scotland event ranked No. 792 in the world after a tough stretch where his form dipped significantly.
And on Sunday, Wilson didn't look like he'd be getting into the winner's circle after a hiccup early evaporated his lead over the field. Former British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen took command, and McIlroy was in the hunt, too.
But Wilson grinded birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 to right the ship, and eventually had a tap-in birdie on the 16th, a critical par-saver on the 17th and watched his competitors fall short on the 18th.
Not bad for a tournament invite, and it's more proof just how funny this game of golf can be at times.
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