CHICAGO _ Vince India treated the evening of Aug. 10 as if it were like the hundreds of others spent in his quest to compete among golf's elite.
He washed down his dinner with three Dalwhinnie 15-year single malts. He watched "The Blues Brothers" for the millionth time, belly-laughing when Sister Mary hits Joliet Jake and Elwood with a ruler to punish their bad language ... and then they can't stop cursing with every smack.
He slept soundly and arrived at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon for the final round of the Portland Open, two shots off the lead. Notch a victory in the regular-season-ending event on the Korn Ferry Tour _ the PGA Tour's developmental circuit _ and his life would change. He would have job security and a chance to share the first tee in 2020 with the likes of Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka.
A win would mean he and girlfriend Meagan Pagano could buy instead of renting in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood. On the road he would go from Fairfield Inns to Four Seasons.
Most important, the 5-foot-10, 150-pound late bloomer who joked about "hitting puberty at 27" would find validation for his endless hours on the range and in the gym, trying to rid the "stutter" in his swing and build up his "toothpick" legs.
On his way to the course, India selected a song with a great beat that he hoped would stay in his head all day to keep him relaxed. He picked a 1992 classic from Ice Cube.
" 'It Was a Good Day,' " India says.
