When Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond arrived at Bethpage last week for the PGA Championship, he told reporters "just being here is already good".
It was to get a whole lot better for the affable 23-year-old from Bangkok.
Jazz should be very proud of his joint 14th place finish and also winning the hearts of many in the raucous gallery that typifies New York.
It so nearly could have been a much better outcome but for an untimely final round slump on the back nine of the treacherous Bethpage course.
Jazz had begun the day in a surprise joint second place, his 67 in the third round being the best of the day.
But the chasing pack were all some distance behind eventual winner Brooks Koepka.
The gusting wind was making life difficult for everyone, but Jazz handled it quite well on the front nine.
However, on the 12th he suffered a double bogey, followed by five consecutive bogeys up to the 17th which saw him fall off the leaderboard and finish with a seven-over 77.
After what he had achieved in the first three rounds, highlighted by superb putting, there was naturally an element of disappointment about the way things ended.
It was frustrating for his supporters to watch, but to his credit Jazz remained calm even though he must have been suffering inner turmoil.
Jazz had a refreshingly philosophical view about his disappointing final round. "It was good it happened today," he told golf.com.
"I am only 23 playing in my second major. If I finished too good I could be thinking I'm a big shot. That humbled me. Now I know I need to work a lot harder."
Nevertheless it was still the second-best finish ever by a Thai in a major, veteran Thongchai Jaidee having earned 13th place at the British Open at Turnberry in 2009.
Jazz, who moved up to 69 in the world rankings, earned plaudits from the television commentators noting his composure and friendly demeanour.
He also caught the eye of International Team captain Ernie Els. "It was encouraging to see him perform so well under an enormous amount of pressure," said the South African.
The boisterous New York crowd had also taken to the young Thai golfer -- they loved his name for a start -- and on the final day gave him an ovation at the 18th when he secured a par to finish his round. Jazz responded with a spontaneous grin.
Jazz said he quite enjoyed the noisy New York crowds who are not afraid to voice their opinions.
"It's the first time I have had a crowd like this, shouting my name. I didn't know how to react at first," he said.
Adding to the interest in Jazz was that he used a local caddie, Jack Miller, who he said proved very helpful, "although sometime it's hard to understand his New York accent."
During the tournament, Miller, who first caddied at Bethpage 50 years ago, became a celebrity in his own right.
The gallery liked the idea of Miller, a local supermarket manager, being in the limelight and they roared their approval every time Jazz and Jack came into sight.
Miller himself couldn't believe the great reception they received.
"Good gracious!" he said after they were cheered off the course at the end of the second round. "Can you believe this? How good is this?"
The caddie was impressed by the young Thai: "He carries himself well. He knows what he's doing."
Miller played down his own role.
"All I am trying to do is make sure he is having fun," he said.
He definitely succeeded.
Thailand's other representative at Bethpage and acting as a mentor for Jazz, was 29-year-old Kiradech Aphibarnrat who recovered after a nightmarish start to his first round, to finish in joint 41st place. He is also 41st in the world rankings.
In the opening round, starting on the difficult 10th, Kiradech double-bogeyed his first two holes and after just four holes was five over.
He did well to finish that round on 76 and go on to make the cut.
Kiradech has now appeared in 16 majors, his best effort being a 15th place in the Masters in 2015 and the same placing in the 2018 US Open.
Jazz, who played in the British Open at Carnoustie last year but failed to make the cut, will have another chance at Royal Port Rush in Northern Ireland in July.
He earned his berth in the British Open after winning the Singapore Open in style earlier this year, beating a strong field which included Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia.
Jazz has achieved seven tournament wins, three of them on the Asian Tour.
He became the youngest player to make the cut in an Asian Tour event in 2010 when he was 14 years, 71 days old.
His first success on the Asian Tour was winning the Bangladesh Open in 2017.
Like most Thai men, Jazz briefly entered the monkhood in 2016 and attributes much of his on-course calmness and success to the Buddhist teachings.
As far as appearing in majors, Jazz has a long way to go to overhaul veteran Thongchai.
The 49-year old is by far the most experienced Thai golfer at the majors, having appeared in 32 tournaments including 11 times each at the British Open and PGA Championship, and five times apiece at the US Open and Masters.
As Jazz prepares himself for Royal Port Rush, he could do worse than keep an eye open for an experienced Port Rush caddie.
As he discovered at Bethpage, a bit of local knowledge can work wonders, although hopefully the gallery may be a little quieter.