Derek Ernst mastered the bumpy greens and bad weather to win his first PGA Tour event at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday.

Tee times were moved to the early morning to avoid heavy storms that were predicted to hit the Charlotte, North Carolina area in the afternoon.

Ernst didn’t mind the cold weather, the poor conditions of the greens or the rain. He drilled a six-iron to within four feet on the final hole to make a birdie and force the playoff.

He will collect $1.2 million for the win, entry into the Players Championship next week, an invite to the 2014 Masters and a two-year PGA Tour exemption.

Dreams do come true on the PGA Tour.

This was only his eighth PGA Tour start in 2013. He had missed five cuts in his previous seven starts and earned a whopping total of $28,000 this year.

He was not even in the field at the beginning of the week and only got in as the fourth alternate after several players came down with “Bumpy Green Syndrome” and withdrew from the Wells Fargo.

Unusual cold damp conditions had turned the greens at Quail Hollow Golf Club into peanut brittle rather than the lush smooth surfaces to which PGA Tour professionals are accustomed.

Ernst had to survive a playoff with Englishman David Lynn when both tied at eight-under par after 72 holes. He made a par on the difficult No. 18, the first playoff hole, to eliminate Lynn and claim first place.

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney had held the 54-hole lead heading into the final round. Mickelson struggled over the back nine on Sunday and made bogies at Nos. 16 and 17 on the “Green Mile.” He finished just one shot out of the joining the playoff with Ernst and Lynn.

Watney posted a final round four-over par 76 and fell to T-10 at four-under par for the tournament.

Lee Westwood was a factor on Sunday, but bogies at Nos. 3, 12, 13 and 17 offset his four birdies and he posted an even-par 72 which was good for a T-4 finish.