A dozen days ago, Étienne Papineau experienced a second disappointment in Oakdale in less than five days after his early exit from the Canadian Open. The weeks follow each other but are not equal. The Quebecer now carries a champion label on the Canadian PGA Tour.
• Also read: Étienne Papineau sees a bright future on the fairways and greens of the PGA Tour
• Also read: Canadian Open: Quebec’s Étienne Papineau suffers a second disappointment in the same week
As he hoisted the trophy at the first tournament of the season in Victoria, Vancouver Island on Sunday, Papineau reflected on the tough road he had come since leaving the University of West Virginia.
He’s worked hard to keep up despite the pandemic. He survived the trials and recovered from injuries that disabled him. He experienced his ups and downs on the fairways of various racetracks.
Above all, despite his leap to the pros around 18 months ago, he is on the way to becoming one of the best in his field. On Sunday, seven days after Canada’s curse ended at the national professional championship, he followed in Nick Taylor’s footsteps and signed an important victory at the Victoria Open.
moment of honor
“It’s the greatest moment of my career,” Papineau said over the phone when Le Journal contacted him after his win. I’ve been struggling with injuries this winter, which has delayed my preparation for the season. I had returned to the game too quickly in the spring and wasn’t ready. My game wasn’t on point and I was doubting myself.
“I had decided to retire for a few weeks to treat this foot injury and be in good shape again,” continued the men’s national team member. And when I came back my game was there and so was my confidence.
The 26-year-old golfer put in an outstanding performance this spring, winning almost every game. He missed the US Open final qualifier by two short strokes. Ditto for the Canadian Open cleaver. Despite these setbacks, he still realized he could compete with the best in his sport.
expected success
“It’s a matter of time before everything fits in my game. I’m unpretentious and if my game is good I know that I’m one of them.” Golf is a long process. My win this weekend is proof of that,” said the man who has two starts on the PGA Tour.
Papineau succeeds Laurent Desmarchais and Raoul Ménard, who each won a title at the Canadian circuit in 2020 and 2021. In times of a pandemic, however, the context and the competition were very different.
Young Desmarchais had won a Canada Life Series tournament with no American competition. And Ménard had done the same in a season reserved exclusively for Canadian golfers due to travel restrictions between countries.
Last year, Albertan Wilson Bateman was back to normal, winning two titles. The last to do so was Taylor Pendrith in 2019, who is now a senior PGA Tour member and represented the international team at last fall’s Presidents Cup.
Since Sunday he has received numerous congratulations and encouragement to continue his excellent work, including that of Canadian Adam Hadwin, who competed at the American Open, and Sahith Theegala, with whom he played on the PGA Tour during his baptism of fire in February 2022 at the Phoenix Open.