From a disastrous loss at Torrey Pines to an eight-shot come-from-behind victory a week later, this golfer experienced both extremes of professional golf in seven days.
The players, who entered Sunday with a commanding lead, have simple expectations. It’s about getting the job done. But as history has shown, getting your first win on the PGA Tour is rarely easy, and even the biggest cushion can suddenly feel fragile under pressure.
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Golf is full of stories where disappointment is part of a long journey. For some people, the pain lasts for years. For others, it’s fuel. One golfer in particular experienced both of these realities back-to-back, resulting in one of the most dramatic short-term turnarounds ever on tour.
A collapse that seemed impossible to recover from
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
At the 2012 Farmers Insurance Open, Kyle Stanley looked firmly in control heading into the final round. Just 24 years old at the time, he started Sunday with a six-stroke lead and was able to extend that advantage over the course of the round.
Despite late pressure from Brandt Snedeker, Stanley stood on the 18th tee with a three-shot cushion and the trophy appeared to be within reach. But what followed was a cruel reversal. At the end of the par-5 hole, a whimsical third shot fell into the water, and a heavy three-putt resulted in a triple bogey.
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After just one hole, his advantage disappeared, forcing a playoff. Stanley ended up losing the second overtime hole, turning what was a near-certain victory into a devastating near miss.
Redemption arrives in just 1 week
Rather than withdraw, Stanley chose to try again the following week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Although he started the final round eight strokes behind the lead, his performance was far from contention.
What followed was an amazing response. Stanley scored 65 points in the final round against TPC Scottsdale, putting pressure on the early group. While other players slumped, he soared up the leaderboard, finishing one stroke ahead of his lowest challenger and winning his first PGA Tour title.
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This victory was a defining moment in his career. It would be Stanley’s second tour win of 2017, but the two weeks between the heartbreaking collapse and the improbable comeback remain one of the most extraordinary two weeks the PGA Tour has ever witnessed.
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