'We've had a traumatic year,' said Terry, 'and this win was a milestone. His mum would have been so proud of him.'

As Steve walked to the first tee for his final round, Nick Hastings, the man who has transformed the 32-year-old Atherstone man's mental approach to his putting, asked him ?What would your mother have said to you right now??'

'She'd have told me to stop faffing around and go out and do it,' Steve replied.

And that's exactly what he did. He entered that elusive world of total self-belief and he made it happen. The result was an electrifying 64, victory by two shots, and a nice £ 350,000 cheque to pop into the bank.

One of many key decisions came at the 17th .where his drive left him a 265yd shot over water. Of, course he should have played safe but he didn't.

While his Warwickshire supporters behind the ropes were calling to him to lay-up ? including his dad ? Steve took out his 5 wood and slammed it on to the green for a birdie.

'Once my caddie told me the yardage I wanted to go for it,' he said. 'Only 5 per cent of me told me to lay up.'

Terry recalled the momentous afternoon. 'That last round was traumatic to say the least. I played every shot with Steve and it wore me out. But it was fantastic. My heart was in my mouth when he hit that shot to the 17th. If things go on like this I think I'll be on Valium!'

The wonder was that Steve was able to hold it all together until he had knocked in the last putt. Then, as the tears came, it became very much a Warwickshire celebration.

By a strange coincidence, Gareth Lord, a county colleague who was Steve's caddie in earlier years, was this time on the bag of Robert Karlsson, his playing partner and chief challenger for the top spot.

'Go and give him a hug,' said the big Swede and Gareth happily switched his allegiance. Also there were fellow county colleagues Steve Brotherhood and Birmingham's Sam Walker, who did himself a power of good with 7th place in Portugal to win 73,000 euros and consolidate his place on the order of merit and ensuring a full part in the new season's European Tour.