Hietala's win comes at opportune time for veteran

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Ryan Hietala was 148th on the money list before the Cox Classic.

"What a struggle.''

The words, spoken late on a steamy Omaha afternoon, belong to Ryan Hietala. Their meaning is open to interpretation.

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Hietala won with a par on the first playoff hole.

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Did Hietala purposely employ a little double entendre?

Was Hietala referring to his improbable playoff victory in the Cox Classic presented by Chevrolet when he came from four shots down to defeat David Branshaw on the first extra hole?

Or was the quote more encompassing, pointing to a maddening three-and-a-half-year, 90-tournament stretch on the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR when Hietala failed to notch a single top 10?

"What a struggle.''

Hietala could say it again.

Let's look at the facts, taking Sunday's happenings first.

Hietala basically entered the final round on a wing and a prayer. The way Branshaw was going -- he was stuck in a mighty pleasant rut after he signed for three consecutive 64s at the shooting gallery known as Champions Run -- a comeback seemed like a long shot barring something extremely deep, like say in the 61 or 62 range.

"But I never thought I wasn't going to win,'' said Hietala, 34, who made five of 16 cuts prior to Omaha that included a string of 10 straight misses. "I'm a glass half-full guy. I know what it means to believe in positive thinking.''

Norman Vincent Peale couldn't have said it better himself.

Hietala shot three under on the front side, but only clipped a shot off the Branshaw lead. So as the leaders turned for home some daunting numbers were working against him. Branshaw set up residence and established ownership on the back nine, posting an aggregate of 15-under-par on that side in the first three rounds. So who would have thought the leader would jam it in reverse, shoot 40 and have to make a 12-foot par-saver on the 72nd just to get into the playoff?

But that does not factor in an ill wind that started whistling, with gusts up to 35 mph, the minute the leaders turned toward home. Hietala played the back nine best despite three bogeys -- including one with a clutch 18-foot putt. He offset those with two birdies, scratched out a 69 -- the highest fourth-round score in tournament history by a champion -- and prevailed when Branshaw bogeyed the playoff hole.

"I had to do a double take,'' Hietala said after he watched Branshaw's par saver scoot past the hole. "Did he really miss? Did I really win?''

That's where the last three-plus years come into play. Hietala won the Chitmacha Louisiana Open in March 2005 and seemed like he was on his way to the PGA TOUR in 2006 as a Nationwide Tour graduate. He made it to The Big Show, but had to survive the rigors of the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament to get there after finishing 34th on the money list.

Hietala never could find his game once out, making just six of 23 cuts with a best finish of a tie for 38th. More of the same followed when Hietala returned to the Nationwide Tour in 2007 and he was still struggling -- until he arrived in Omaha, where he won $126,000.

His earnings for the previous 90 events were $187,170, which means he didn't cover expenses. Money had become an issue for Hietala and his wife, Jennifer, who had returned to school and recently earned her graduate degree in Speech Pathology. She started work last week.

So how does Hietala explain the stunning turn around that enabled him to leap 122 spots on the 2008 money list to 26th?

"I don't know. I came in with no expectations,'' he said.

Long pause.

"The timing of Jennifer starting work relieved some of the pressure I guess -- at least subconsciously,'' he said.

His mind freed, Hietala stayed strong mentally throughout the weekend. He lost his swing during the back nine Saturday, but fought hard to complete a third-round 70. He didn't have his 'A' game Sunday either, but he played "one shot at a time'' while managing to "stay in the present.''

And now he's in the conversation when the Nationwide Tour's 'The 25' is discussed. Imagine the tears of joy that flowed when Hietala called Jennifer, who was nervously watching The GOLF CHANNEL from the couple's home in Boise, where they met in 2004.

On a technical note, Hietala switched to left-hand low on the putter a few weeks ago. The move allowed him to square his shoulders and he putted lights-out in Omaha, making the crucial par- and bogey-savers he needed to stay alive.

There was little time for celebration. Hietala was headed for Wichita, Kan., for this week's Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open, on Monday.

"It'll be back to work Tuesday,'' he said.

But Hietala will return with the spring in his step and renewed purpose a victory provides.

"It has been a long journey,'' Hietala said. "I know this is the Ryan mentally I knew was in there. I know this is the Ryan who can win and get his card back and not only go to the PGA TOUR, but win majors.''