A year ago the former U.S. Amateur champion rolled into Dubai to entrust his game to The Els Club, Dubai-based Northern Irishman Justin Parsons on the recommendation of Claude Harmon III.

The rest, thanks to a not insignificant swing change, is now glorious history after Uihlein fired a closing 65 to capture the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship by a shot from local favourite Ryan Armour at Ohio State University Golf Club.

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Justin Parsons works with Peter Uihlein.

The win earns Uihlein exempt status on the PGA Tour for the 2017-18 season and is an understandably proud moment for Parsons, the Director of Instruction at the Butch Harmon School of Golf at The Els.

“It’s almost exactly a year since Peter made his first trip across to Dubai after we got started and it’s been an amazing ride to see him not only improve as a player and improve a lot of the areas of his game, but also take ownership of his dream to become a PGA Tour player,” said Parsons.

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Justin Parsons with Peter Uihlein at the 2017 U.S. PGA Championship

“So we’re absolutely thrilled for him this morning. I had a bit of a late night watching it and I’m over the moon for him and all the things it’s going to mean for him coming into the 2018 season.”

The feeling is obviously mutual as this tweet from Uihlein shows:

Thanks to my coach @JParsonsGolf caddy Ben and @team_FIP @liammcdougall84 @H_Bomb009 @BradFaxon for all their hard work and belief in me ??

— Peter Uihlein (@PeterUihlein) September 3, 2017

Uihlein, who turned 28 last Tuesday, has played in Europe since he turned professional in 2012 and looks likely to juggle his schedule between the European and PGA Tours next year even after his big Ohio win.

Thanks for all the messages! Thrilled to have gotten it done ?? looking forward to being a member of the PGA and European tour next year!!

— Peter Uihlein (@PeterUihlein) September 3, 2017

He got into the Web.com Tour Finals as a non-member courtesy of earning enough FedEx Cup points to qualify with three top-25 finishes in seven PGA Tour starts this season. His $180,000 winners’ cheque means he’s now a lock for one of the Web.com Tour’s 25 PGA Tour cards for next season.

More success in the Web.com Tour’s remaining finals events would improve his status although his end-of-season schedule remains uncertain beyond the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews and the Italian Open and the co-sanctioned WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China later in October.

Most importantly thanks to my family and my girl @ChelseaGatestv for the support and belief. Couldn't have done it without them pic.twitter.com/BcY5ahxnT0

— Peter Uihlein (@PeterUihlein) September 3, 2017

Parsons deserves a great deal of credit for what shapes as a career defining win in Ohio for the son of Wally Uihlein, longtime CEO of Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist.

After recovering from surgery for a ruptured ligament in his left wrist in May 2016, Parsons went to work on creating a power fade swing to replace the draw Uihlein had gone to most of his career.

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Uihlein described his Ohio triumph as a “nice validation” of Parsons work.

“This year in particular, with the way I’ve tried to change my game, I’ve become a lot more consistent,” Uihlein said. “It’s a good feeling to know that I can play golf just hitting it in one direction and eliminate one side of the golf course, which is something I’ve been just absolutely hammering. I really like where my game is headed.”

So pleased for @peteruihlein on securing his @pgatour card with a victory @webdotcomtour in Ohio. 65 final round- baller!! @benhayes78 @chelseagatestv @team_fip #teamtitleist #titleist

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Sep 3, 2017 at 2:03pm PDT

The post Uihlein credits Dubai coach for career-changing Web.com Tour victory appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.