Years before he sunk a putt last weekend to clinched his first PGA Tour golf victory, Naval Academy graduate and Annapolis native Billy Hurley III was driving ships through the Suez Canal as an officer in the United States Navy. What seems like a lifetime ago, long before the moment Sunday when he was embraced by his wife and his kids — who were waving tiny little American flags and rooting on their father at Bethesda’s famous golf course, Congressional — he was just another American serving his country. Without an inkling that the day would come, this past Sunday, when he would break down with joy and celebrate a monumental professional sports achievement in front of, perhaps, the greatest golfer to ever live (Tiger Woods hosts the tourney, Quicken Loans, every year in the DC area).

“That’s probably like the most emotion I’ve ever shown in my life,” Hurley said after the winning putt.

He shot a two-under-par 69 in the final round to win the whole damn thing, 12 years after graduating as a Midshipman in Annapolis.

“Couldn’t be a better tournament to win from all facets of it,” he said. “From just being close to home, being close to the Academy, close to where I grew up. It’s just perfect.”

Watch the vet celebrate in this heartwarming and exultant footage below:

Hear what Tiger had to say about Hurley’s monumental win:

Military.com