Dustin Johnson is ready to challenge the likes of Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy at golf's summit after finally burying his major championship demons at the US Open.
Long rated one game's supreme talents, the 31-year-old American had found multiple ways to lose the biggest test in golf... until now.
Despite being thrust into another final round controversy. Johnson rode the pressure of playing under threat of a penalty to claim his maiden major with a three-shot victory at fiery and brutally tough Oakmont Country Club.
The win takes him from No.6 to No.3 in the world, behind only No.1 Day and No.2 Spieth.
Just 12 months earlier he faced a 12-foot putt to win the US Open at Chambers Bay, only to three-putt and miss a playoff.
At the 2010 US open he took the 54-hole lead at Pebble Beach before a final round 82. The same year at the US PGA Championship he grounded his club in a bunker on the 72nd hole and was penalised out of a playoff.
He also had leads at last year's US Open, British Open and PGA Championship at times but faltered.
In all he had amassed 11 top-10 finishes in majors without a win.
This time he was approached on the 12th tee by officials informing him they were contemplating assessing a one-shot penalty for an incident on the fifth hole.
They believed he may have caused his ball to move on the green and said they would rule on it after his round.
At the time he led by two and it clearly rattled his nerves for a few holes as he fell back into a tie for the lead.
But he rebounded, pushing far enough clear that the one-shot penalty he ultimately received was inconsequential.
"I couldn't be more excited, more happy, and more proud of myself," Johnson said.
"It's definitely a big monkey off my back.
"Coming into today, I've been in this situation time and time again. So I know what to expect. I know how to handle myself.
"I've put myself in this position many times, and to get it done is definitely sweet."
With the mental demons seemingly slayed, Johnson can now perhaps fully unleash the beast who has won at least one event in every single one of his nine seasons on the US PGA tour since his debut.
Given he can hit the ball further than anyone else, the sky could be the limit.
"I think this opens the door for me to be a great player. It's definitely a good start," he said.
Despite accepting the penalty, Johnson did not believe it was warranted and while admitting to 'here we go again' thoughts when approached mid-round he was proud of his response.
"It's (drama) nothing new at this point. It's happened so many times. I kind of expect it now," he said.
"So for it to not affect the outcome is fantastic. It just shows how well I played."
Third round leader Shane Lowry of Ireland, who started four shots clear, coughed up his advantage with a 76, dropping him to one-under and a tie for second with Americans Scott Piercy (69) and Jim Furyk (66).
Australia's world No.1 Day looked like he might make a late charge to an improbable victory before the penultimate hole scuppered his chances.
Day eagled the 12th and birdied the 13th holes to jump to one under par for the championship but a double bogey and a bogey to finish meant a final round 71 and two-over finish in a tie for eighth.
Adam Scott finished with a four-over-74 to be six over, joining Marc Leishman (69).
Cameron Smith had a nightmare final round of 79, ballooning out to 15 over.
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