Aaron Baddeley Earns Third Career PGA TOUR Victory

~ Badds! - Aaron Baddeley captures first PGA TOUR victory since 2007 and celebrates with his family ~

Throughout the 2011 Northern Trust Open, worldwide golf fans were focused on the resurgence of Fred Couples, the 51-year-old, former world number one golfer who hadn't won on the PGA TOUR since 2003, but had played exceedingly well throughout the tournament's first three rounds in spite of an aching back.

Yet, golf commentators and fans alike had failed to recognize the resurgence of another golfer who, in spite of his youth, had not obtained a PGA TOUR victory in almost four years.

When he first became a golfing professional, Aaron Baddeley was distinguished as one of the world's most promising golfers - and he soon responded with victories throughout Australia and Europe.

A second-place finish at the 2003 Sony Open in Hawaii, in which he lost in a playoff to Ernie Els, at the tender age of 21, showed that he certainly had the talent to win on the PGA TOUR - and soon.

But, Baddeley was unable to taste PGA TOUR victory for another three seasons, when he defeated Jim Furyk by one stroke at the 2006 Verizon Heritage - a tournament which is annually held at Harbour Town Golf Links, a course which has challenged some of the world's greatest golfers for more than 40 years.

Upon winning the Verizon Heritage, Baddeley began to play consistently well as he regularly contended in Europe, Australia, and the United States. Suddenly, he was playing to his true potential and, as a result, he had become recognized as one of the TOUR's top Australian golfers - and a sure bet to obtain further PGA TOUR victories.

In early 2007, he defeated John Rollins by one stroke at the FBR Open for his second PGA TOUR victory. However, after a successful, consistent 2007 PGA TOUR campaign, Baddeley struggled to maintain his form and rarely contended for tournaments throughout the next three seasons, in spite of his youth and natural golfing capabilities.

Just as some golfing commentators and fans were beginning to dismiss his abilities to become one of the TOUR's top young talents, Baddeley shocked the golfing world again with his victory at the 2011 Northern Trust Open - a tournament that has been contested at the highly reputable Riveria Country Club since the early 1970s.

Throught the week, Baddeley played consistently well and successfully ignored the media hype that had followed Couples since Thursday afternoon. With rounds of 67, 69, 67, and 69, Baddeley overcame the challenges of some of the world's most successful golfers, including former world number ones Vijay Singh and David Duval; seven-time PGA TOUR winner K.J. Choi; and fellow Australian Robert Allenby.

With a renewed sense of confidence, and yet another professional tournament victory, how will Baddeley respond throughout the coming months of the 2011 season though? Is a major championship victory obtainable?

Although he is only 29-years-old, Baddeley is already a seasoned veteran who has overcome numerous close calls and disappointments on the golf course; enjoyed various successes throughout the world; and has continued to maintain a positive mentality and spirit through it all.

With such an attitude, Baddeley will likely display his golfing skills in major championships throughout the coming years...and contend for some of the world's most coveted tournaments well into the future.

The golfing world knows that Baddeley surely has the game to be a regular contender on the PGA TOUR. But, how will he react? If his performance at Riveria is any sign of future success, the best is yet to come for Baddeley....as he turns 30 in March and prepares for another decade of tournament victories.

Aaron Baddeley's Professional Tournament Victories

1999 Holden Australian Open
2000 Holden Australian Open
2001 Greg Norman Holden International
2006 Verizon Heritage
2007 FBR Open
2007 Mastercard Masters
2011 Northern Trust Open