The years hurtle by, don’t they? Until an overdue success in South Africa last weekend, Kylie Henry’s last individual victory on the women’s tour seemed so long ago, you almost felt footage of it would only be available on a grainy, crackling British Pathe newsreel.

“It’s been a while,” she reflected with a chuckle after finally bridging a title gap of a decade with a two-shot triumph in the Sunshine Ladies Tour’s Dimension Data Pro-Am.

Like a nicely poured pint of a well-kent Irish beverage, good things come to those who wait. And to people who don’t give up too.

“I had never considered that I wouldn’t win again because that would’ve gone against everything I’m trying to do,” added Henry of the entrenched belief that continues to drive her on. “In golf, the form comes and goes, it’s up and down and it’s a very mentally taxing game. But every time I pitch up at a tournament, I’m trying to win.

“As soon as you start turning up just looking to make a cut or making a little bit of money then it’s probably time to give up. I’ve never felt like that.”

Having made her mark on the Ladies European Tour (LET) back in 2014 with a thrilling double-whammy of victories in Holland and Germany, a return to the winner's circle last Sunday on the South African circuit proved that even the darkest clouds can have a silver lining.

Physically, personally and professionally, the last couple of years have been full of trials, tribulations and tragedy for Henry.

A broken elbow towards the end of 2021, and the prolonged rehabilitation that followed, halted her playing career and left her playing catch up, while the death of her dearest friend last spring, after a battle with cancer, was a devastating loss.

“At the time, I didn’t realise the impact grief has on all aspects of your life,” said Henry, who would also lose her full playing rights on the LET at the end of a trying 2023 campaign. “Heather was my best friend and a huge part of my life.

“When she passed away, the tour was on a break so at least I could be there for her in the last few days of her life. It was a terribly tragic time. After that, I stuck with my schedule and went back to competing. I wanted to be out there again. But I didn’t really understand grief. There’s no real road map for it and I just struggled with everything.”

With the unwavering support of her family and her husband, Scott, as well as the technical and psychological gurus and mentors who help fine tune the golfing body and brain, Henry worked herself back to winning ways. Sunday’s success was a victory, not just for her, but for a lot of people.

“It’s been the hardest period of my career, without a doubt,” said the former Scottish women’s amateur No 1. “I was very proud of myself for winning and was delighted my game held up under the pressure. But I was delighted too for everybody who has helped me through it. There were so many people who held me up when I couldn’t do it myself.

“Getting over a physical injury is so hard. There’s the recovery from the injury itself then it’s all about trying to get your game back to a certain level having been out for so long. I worked so hard with my coach, Andy Paisley, while my psychologist, Paul McCarthy, was an absolute rock through it all.

“Every win is special in their own way. My first one proved I could do it and the second one saw me break records (three successive 64s). This latest win was satisfying because I’ve battled back from injury and some tough personal stuff.”

At 37, and with 14 seasons of touring golf behind her, Henry’s experience and competitive instincts shone through at Fancourt last weekend. As affairs at the sharp end of the leaderboard intensified, the Glasgow golfer made a telling thrust and birdied two of her last three holes to claim the honours. It’s onwards and upwards.

“It’s exciting and it almost feels like a fresh start,” she said of her renewed vigour. “I still have a decent ranking on the LET and winning again opens up a few more doors. I’m certainly not done yet.”

There may be a few more silver linings to come.