Nobody saw Trevor Immelman coming, not even himself. The freshly green-jacketed winner of the Masters missed the cut the previous week in the Houston Open and his only recent result of note was winning the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa the week before he went under the knife in hospital to have a benign tumour removed from his diaphragm.

He made a fast six-week recovery and was back playing golf, but nowhere near to his personal satisfaction.

"I felt I had to basically start again from zero," he said. "I was missing cuts but trying to stay positive because I knew I was improving week after week. And here I am after missing the cut last week as Masters champion. It's the craziest thing I've ever heard of."

Having said that, the 28-year-old Immelman, son of Johan, commissioner of the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, has long been regarded as capable of winning a major by his countrymen and mentors Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, all of whom know only too well what it takes.

He has a swing that has been likened to that of master technician, the late Ben Hogan, and a passion for the game that is second to none. Now he has a green jacket to show he has the grit, doggedness and sheer courage to withstand arguably the greatest pressure in golf.

Player, the 73-year-old three-times Masters champion, has been waiting for what seems like an eternity for another South African to join him at the champions dinner. Els, Goosen, Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini have all been second, but now the Black Knight has a companion.

Player had a direct role in Immelman's success, sending him a voicemail before his final round.

"It gave me goosebumps," said Immelman. "He was on his way to the Middle East but he told me that he believed in me and I needed to believe in myself. He told me I had to keep my head a little quieter when I putt and he told me to be strong through adversity because adversity would come and I had to deal with it."

Nowhere was that more true than at the par-3 16th where, with a five-stroke lead, he pulled his tee shot into water. It was the kind of shot that would introduce doubt into the strongest mind.

"That was my worst shot of the day and my caddie did a great job," he said. "He told me to just hang in there. He told me I was doing well even though I had hit it in the water. I didn't look at a leaderboard all day but I felt I was doing OK because even though I made a double-bogey people were clapping."

He then survived a bunker at the 17th and a deep divot in the middle of the fairway at the last after what he considered to be his best drive of the whole week.

"It was the biggest divot you've ever seen," he said. "My caddie told me You knew it wasn't going to be easy' and I put an eight iron back in my stance and just ripped it. Thankfully it came out straight and stayed on the right level."

At that point he had four putts to win and said: "I didn't think I could do it, but luckily I just needed two."

Player has been close to Immelman for what seems like all his life.

"I first met him when I was five-years-old at my home in Somerset West," he recalled. "I have a great picture. He picked me up and put me on his shoulders and I had no front teeth.

"I think he realised that even at a young age I had so much passion for the game. He kept in touch with me, kept writing me notes and kept answering my calls and letters to him. He was always there for support and advice.

"After I turned pro he was always there for a kick in the butt too when he saw something he didn't like. So he's been like another father for me. To have someone with that much experience on your side is just incredible. I'm very thankful."

Els also took him under his wing, and now based at Lake Nona, Florida, he has also been supported by Goosen, who also resides there. Immelman openly picked the brains of all three and now he's achieved a victory that Els and Goosen are still waiting for.

The operation he had just four months ago has also given Immelman, married to Carminita and with a son, Jakob, a rare perspective.

"It was tough," he said, "and it was tougher for the family at the time because I was so out of it. You could have shot me in the leg and I wouldn't have known about it.

"But you realise that it can just be taken away from you so fast and if you don't enjoy every step of the way you might regret it. And that would be sad to regret a talent that you were given."

Having achieved a lifetime ambition, Immelman believes he can now go forward and build on it.

"This tournament is such a big deal in South Africa. We grew up idolising this event. Kids dream about winning it just as I did. Deep down I always thought I was good enough but you screw up at times and you doubt yourself and think maybe you're not good enough.

"But this is a tremendous confidence boost and now that I have one under my belt all I can do is prepare well for the majors from now on and try my best. I'm certainly not going to sit back and say that I'm done. I'm going to keep working hard trying to make the most of what I've been given."