PEAKS & VALLEYS

PEAKS & VALLEYS

A vital lesson for anyone who aspires to play golf at a high level is understanding the “Peaks and Valleys.”

It’s human nature to grasp the moments that give us pleasure and to hope that we could live in that feeling. Unfortunately, our journey in golf is likely to have as many down moments as moments of brilliance. The key is to learn to enjoy the bad as much as the good.

I teach my students that the “valley” they will experience is the real opportunity to learn what our weaknesses are. Honest self-analysis is the greatest talent we can have in golf (or life, for that matter.) A slump is an opportunity that will allow us to rise to a peak we have never known. Tour pros understand this necessary process for long term improvement.

Once, Seve Ballesteros was asked how he could hit the ball so wildly and still score well enough to win tournament and he answered, “I suffer better than other golfers.” Therein is the essence of how attitude builds the heart of a champion.

Hogan spoke of “digging it out of the dirt,” and his message was the joy of working to find the truth, in the face of a huge “valley,” and the strength gained that will bring us to the highest “peak.”

Some of the greatest buckets of balls I have ever hit came in the second half of a bad bucket.
When The Price Is Right, People Will Respond

When The Price Is Right, People Will Respond

There is a lot of talk about the state of the game these days and what needs to be done to create growth. Not many talk about reducing their prices, however, to attract more people.

I have been on a few forums lately, and you would think that lowering the price of a lesson or a round of golf is akin to selling your soul to the devil. Let’s be realistic for a moment, however. People are always looking for a deal, and in a tough economy even more so. I know I do. I play with a regular group of guys once a week, and we generally go to the course with the best rate.

Amenities only go so far. My friends are not going to pay $75 or more for a round of golf on a regular basis just because the course is newer, has GPS, a fancy clubhouse, and might be in better condition. If the course is in decent shape and priced right, my buddies are going there. They just want to play golf, and I believe most people are that way.

Here are a few example of what I mean. One of our local courses made a mistake and advertised a weekend rate of $25 instead of $35. We, of course, jumped on it. So did most of the other golfers in the area. The tee sheet was full all day, both days. I was approached by Groupon about doing a deal with them. I said what the heck. The discount was significant, but they sold 315 packages in a three-day period.

No matter what, people are always looking for the best deal they can find. If that means I have to take less for a lesson right now, so be it. I love what I do and want to keep doing it. Everything cycles, and adapting to the ups and downs is not compromising your principles – it is making sound business decisions.
Teaching Simple Pitch Shots

Teaching Simple Pitch Shots

The technique used for pitching the ball is basically the same as with other full shots with a golf club.  The only changes are a smaller swing, a slightly opened stance, and an open hip position that most good wedge players use.  This is done because the smaller swing of the wedge.  By opening the stance and hips, it gives the body a little more room to clear through the shot.

The length of the backswing and speed of the downswing influence the distance control on pitch shots.  A longer backswing increases the potential speed of the clubhead.

There are several different theories on how to control distance.  Some advocate the length of backswing dictates the distance hit.  Others control the distance by swing speed.  Personally, I think that is a combination of the two.   However, I prefer to rely on swing length as a guide and swing speed as the ultimate control under pressure.

There are various styles that we can use to accomplish a successful pitch but there are a few fundamentals that should be followed:

  • The pitch shot is just a small swing with a lofted club.
  • Feet and hips should be slightly open to the target.  This makes it easier to see the target line and to swing down the target line.
  • Set the weight more to the target side to promoting a stable impact position.  The set-up should nearly mimic the impact position.
  • For most pitch shots, there is very little rotation of the clubhead on the backswing and through the impact area.  The clubface should remain square to the target well after impact.
  • Feel as if the clubhead is a broom brushing the ground at impact.  There is no need for a huge divot.
Pitch and Run  

There is a variation of the pitch shot where the ball is pitched into the air and releases upon landing.  The shot is executed the same as a normal pitch, except the non-target hand releases more at impact.  The clubhead is allowed to rotate over after impact to encourage for the pitch and run shot.
Golf Needs New Thinking

Golf Needs New Thinking

Many of us have been lucky enough to make a living in the great game of golf. At a time when the game has taken a beating from the economy, it is the duty of all of us in the industry to give back to the game to make it healthy and growing again.

As I sat in the front row of the audience at the January PGA show in Orlando listening to the great Jack Nicklaus speak, I couldn’t help but be moved by his words. It wasn’t only his words, but the tone in his voice and the obvious concern you could see on his face. Here was this die-hard traditionalist talking about how he had to revisit his beliefs and attitudes in order to realize that the game was falling behind other sports with kids and the public in general. On the big screen behind him, he played a video of a focus group session. Some of the comments about the game, its representatives (us!), and its image were not very positive. As a matter of fact, it was startling to hear “outside voices” from average people who have either left the game or never played talk about their perceptions of the game. I was squirming in my seat.

At Jack’s beloved Muirfield Village course in Columbus, Ohio, Jack hosted some “out of the box thinking” outings. He was proud to show the pictures and videos of the interviews recorded during and after each event. One was a tournament with the hole being made three inches bigger on every green. Another event featured more than one hole on every green. Another set of pictures and participant interviews focused on his initiative of shortening the course significantly for a large outing. To say the least, the feedback was wildly popular and positive. And, all of this came from someone I always considered one of the hardcore traditionalists in the history of the game.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, golf was riding a wave of popularity. Golf schools were packed, and courses were being built long and difficult – and a lot of them were being built. Equipment manufacturers were thriving. Tiger Woods was seemingly the lead on ESPN every day. Television ratings were setting records, and there were new golf shops everywhere. Since then, we have lost over 9 million golfers.

Think about that number for a moment. Jack’s message was basically that it was up to all of us to promote the game, not just in our traditional close-minded way, but with “new thinking,” as he called it. He called on everyone listening to get kids involved, give some free lessons and change the way the game is introduced to new players. Change the game somehow to make it more fun.
Good For Bubba – And For Golf!

Good For Bubba – And For Golf!

Wasn’t that a blast! Louis Oosthuizen making his albatross on number two, and then Bubba Watson with his four birdies in a row on the back nine that kept most of us on the edge of our seats. Then to have Phil Mickelson lurking…and most of us knowing that it would be just like him to pounce on the leaders, adding to our anticipation. Bubba then demonstrated in sudden death that golf, like life, is about realizing our mistakes, reassessing our predicament, and having a commitment to recover.

The 2012 Masters will be considered a classic for a long time!

Not only that but it was very good for the game of golf. There is another star on the PGA Tour. Oh sure, Bubba has been around for awhile, and we all know how exciting he is with his swashbuckling manner of play. But, to do it in the way that he did it! Having to create shots that would scare the daylights out of many touring pros, on the back nine, on Sunday, at The Masters, has contributed to Bubba becoming a household name, even amongst many non-golfers.

With the current state of the PGA Tour (and Tiger Woods’ antics weakening his mind and reducing him to just another touring pro), golf has lost much of the excitement that it had in recent years. We needed some fresh heroes to step up. Oosthuizen wasn’t a fluke when he won the British Open, but now he has confirmed himself as a player who has to be reckoned with in all the majors. Let’s add something to the mix, though. Bubba and Louis are not only great golfers. Their attitudes and behavior make them people who many of you would enjoy your posterity looking up to.

Tiger has been an unbelievable golfer who raised the bar possibly higher than it’s ever been…in some respects, anyway. Sadly, though, I shudder at the thought of his example of being a role model to those who will follow. Not only for his antics off the course, but even on it. If a full-grown man doesn’t have more control over himself than to sling and then kick his club when he hits a shot that he doesn’t like, what kind of example does that set for the youngsters coming up? He lets profanity fly when he deems it is necessary, whether there are ladies, children, or whoever in the gallery. Honestly, I sit and watch Tiger sometimes and wonder what he is going to do next that sets a bad example for those youngsters who idolize him.

I’m pulling for him, though! I want Tiger to get past all of this and finally grow up into the man that he has the opportunity to become. I really don’t know how I would handle it if I was young, worth hundreds of millions of dollars or maybe a billion, was idolized all over the world, and had people treating me like royalty wherever I went. Then, to know that I was so special that many people just wanted to say “Hi” as I passed by so that they could tell their grandchildren 40 years from now that they actually talked to me. Even with all of those distractions, in many ways, Tiger has demonstrated that he is driven to be the best that he can be and I give him credit for that.

It would be a great story if Tiger got his life together and was able to finally look all of us in the eye and say, “What have I done? How could I have been such a boorish person who, too many times, has shown so little respect for the game, my competitors, the fans, and having little regard for giving back to the game which has been so good to me? I can only imagine what effect my actions on and off the course will have on many young men in the future who have idolized me for years.”

I would like to say to him, Tiger, you’ve been compared to and in many people’s eyes, even exceeded Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and even Jack Nicklaus as the best golfer in history. It would be nice to see you finally get to the place, though, where you could represent the true spirit of golf as those men have, men who gave back as much or more than they took. I’m really pulling for you, Tiger. Please…grow up! If not for yourself, do it for the youngsters coming up!

We all make mistakes; that’s part of life! One of the wonderful things about golf, though, is that it teaches us how to take responsibility for errors, correct them, and become better for it. You’ve done that very thing on the golf course, in major championships, right in front of our eyes. It will be one of the greatest sports stories ever told if you finally accept the responsibility that goes along with what you have received from golf and the fans that have supported you and behaved in a way that upholds the finest traditions of the game. Now, let me give you some incentive! It would also give you the best chance at beating Jack’s total number of wins in the majors – seriously! Here is a fact of life: For anybody to reach their true potential, they simply must be at peace with themselves.
What We Can Learn from Kyle Stanley – A Tour Winner

What We Can Learn from Kyle Stanley – A Tour Winner

The saga of Kyle Stanley on the PGA Tour this year provides us with a teachable moment.

First, let’s recap. Stanley had a three-shot lead coming into #18 on Sunday at the Farmer’s Insurance Open in San Diego. He proceeded to hit his third shot onto the green, but it spun back into the water. He took a penalty stroke, hit his fifth shot onto the green and then proceed to three-putt, making a triple bogey. He then lost the playoff to Brandt Snedeker.

The very next week, he went on to win the Waste Management event in Phoenix.

The question is, “What can we learn from Stanley’s exploits?”

First, Stanley admitted that he was very nervous during the playoff. Many amatuers believe that the players on the PGA Tour do not get nervous. That is false. Tell your students that everyone gets nervous. This is a human condition. When an event is important to you and there is uncertainty about the outcome, you will be nervous. When your students are aware that even great players get nervous, they will feel more comfortable when they, too, feel the nerves.

Second, Stanley learned from his failure in San Diego what his body will do under pressure. More importantly, once he learned how his body reacts under pressure, he then had more control over his body when the pressure arrived at the Waste Management tournament. As a result, he was successful.

Most likely, your students do not know what their bodies will do under pressure, so they choke when the pressure comes. Points to consider:

– Does your student swing faster under pressure? – Does your student swing slower under pressure? – Does your student think faster under pressure and get impulsive? – Does your student take more risks under pressure?

Ask your students to monitor how their bodies change when the pressure mounts. Becoming aware of what happens under pressure is the first step to fixing any problems.
Building Your Method

Building Your Method

The first professional golf lesson I ever gave was with “Mr. Golf Channel Know It All.” He decided to contest every statement I made. Because of that, I made a commitment: always follow “how” with “why.” Now, the statement is, “This is what I would like to see you do, and this is why I would like to see you do it.” Hopefully, the student says, “That makes sense, I see why you do that.” From that point on they have ownership of that knowledge and have begun to build their method. My students know they will be asked to share, show knowledge, and actively participate in the discussion. Every aspect of their method must match so that a ball flight pattern can develop. Even at a tour level, you see players sometimes chasing a technique that is limiting. Today the fad is to “work left” through the ball. This general piece of advice is incomplete, at best. Also, I have never seen so many top level players laying the sod over short wedge shots. That stiff right arm that drives the right shoulder upward as we begin our swing, coupled with the chesty yank left, is contrived and robotic. The ability to read the turf with the bounce on your wedge comes from relaxed elbows. Soft hands hit soft shots. If your method is complete, you can be successful with any club in your bag, provided the swing is good. If your method is lacking, you will only be successful with a limited number of clubs and your score will suffer as a result.

Comment Betzoid France Explique les Pronostics de Score Exact

Dans l’univers des paris sportifs, peu d’éléments suscitent autant de fascination et de défi intellectuel que le pronostic de score exact. Prédire avec précision le résultat final d’un match de football — non pas simplement qui gagne ou perd, mais exactement combien de buts chaque équipe marque — représente l’un des exercices analytiques les plus complexes du domaine. Betzoid France s’est imposé comme une référence sérieuse dans ce secteur en proposant une méthodologie rigoureuse et transparente pour aborder ces prédictions. Cet article explore en détail comment cette plateforme construit, justifie et communique ses pronostics de score exact, en s’appuyant sur des données concrètes et une analyse structurée du football moderne.

Les Fondements Méthodologiques de Betzoid France

La crédibilité d’un pronostic de score exact repose avant tout sur la solidité de la méthode qui le génère. Betzoid France ne se contente pas de publier des chiffres arbitraires : la plateforme s’appuie sur un cadre analytique multicouche qui intègre des données statistiques historiques, des modèles probabilistes et une veille tactique approfondie sur les équipes concernées.

Le premier pilier de cette méthodologie est l’analyse des performances offensives et défensives des équipes. Betzoid France examine des indicateurs tels que la moyenne de buts marqués et encaissés par match, les performances à domicile et à l’extérieur, ainsi que les tendances récentes sur les cinq à dix dernières rencontres. Ces données brutes sont ensuite pondérées selon le niveau de compétition, car une équipe peut afficher des statistiques flatteuses contre des adversaires modestes tout en étant fragile face à des formations de haut rang.

Le deuxième pilier repose sur l’utilisation de modèles mathématiques éprouvés dans le monde des statistiques sportives. Le modèle de Poisson, par exemple, est fréquemment utilisé pour estimer la probabilité qu’une équipe marque un nombre précis de buts lors d’un match donné. En combinant les taux d’attaque et de défense des deux équipes impliquées, ce modèle génère une distribution de probabilités pour chaque score possible, de 0-0 à des résultats plus prolifiques. Betzoid France intègre ces calculs dans son processus d’analyse sans pour autant les présenter de manière hermétique aux lecteurs non spécialistes.

Enfin, la dimension contextuelle joue un rôle déterminant. Les absences de joueurs clés, les conditions climatiques, les enjeux du match (qualification, maintien, titre), ou encore la fatigue liée à des calendriers chargés sont autant de facteurs qualitatifs qui peuvent faire dévier un résultat des projections purement statistiques. Betzoid France intègre systématiquement ces éléments dans ses analyses pour nuancer les données quantitatives.

Comment Betzoid France Présente et Justifie Ses Pronostics

La transparence est l’une des valeurs centrales qui distingue Betzoid France dans un secteur souvent opaque. Chaque pronostic de score exact publié sur la plateforme est accompagné d’une explication détaillée qui permet au lecteur de comprendre le raisonnement sous-jacent, et non simplement d’accepter une prédiction sur la foi de l’autorité de la source.

Concrètement, une analyse type proposée par Betzoid France commence par une présentation du contexte du match : classement des équipes, forme récente, historique des confrontations directes. Cette section introductive pose les bases factuelles sur lesquelles reposera l’ensemble du raisonnement. Elle est suivie d’une analyse offensive et défensive comparative, où les forces et faiblesses de chaque équipe sont mises en regard. C’est dans cette partie que les pronostics score exact foot en france prennent tout leur sens analytique, car ils ne peuvent être correctement interprétés qu’à la lumière des dynamiques spécifiques à chaque rencontre et au contexte du football français en particulier.

Betzoid France présente ensuite plusieurs scénarios de scores possibles, classés par ordre de probabilité. Plutôt que d’imposer un unique score comme « la » réponse, la plateforme reconnaît l’incertitude inhérente à l’exercice et propose généralement deux ou trois scores les plus probables, accompagnés d’une estimation de leur vraisemblance relative. Cette approche honnête est pédagogiquement précieuse : elle enseigne aux lecteurs que le pronostic de score exact n’est jamais une certitude, mais une évaluation probabiliste éclairée.

La justification des choix s’appuie également sur des comparaisons avec des matchs similaires passés. Si deux équipes présentant des profils comparables ont régulièrement produit des rencontres serrées se terminant sur des scores du type 1-0 ou 1-1, cette tendance historique est mentionnée et pesée dans la balance. Ce recours à l’analogie historique ancre les prédictions dans une réalité empirique vérifiable plutôt que dans des intuitions subjectives.

Les Limites de l’Exercice et la Pédagogie de Betzoid France

L’une des contributions les plus importantes de Betzoid France au débat sur les pronostics sportifs est sa volonté d’éduquer les lecteurs sur les limites inhérentes à la prédiction de scores exacts. Dans un domaine où de nombreux acteurs promettent des certitudes impossibles, cette posture de rigueur intellectuelle mérite d’être soulignée.

Le football est, par nature, un sport d’une grande imprévisibilité. Même les modèles statistiques les plus sophistiqués ne peuvent anticiper un but inscrit sur corner dans les dernières secondes, une expulsion qui modifie l’équilibre d’un match, ou une performance individuelle exceptionnelle qui transcende toutes les projections. Betzoid France rappelle régulièrement à ses lecteurs que les taux de réussite sur les pronostics de score exact — même pour les meilleurs analystes — restent modestes, généralement compris entre 10 % et 20 % sur le long terme, selon les compétitions et les méthodologies employées.

Cette honnêteté statistique est couplée à une démarche pédagogique active. Betzoid France publie régulièrement des bilans de ses pronostics passés, permettant aux lecteurs d’évaluer la performance réelle de la plateforme sur la durée. Cette transparence rétrospective est rare dans le secteur et constitue un gage de sérieux appréciable. Elle permet également d’identifier les types de matchs ou de compétitions pour lesquels les modèles analytiques sont plus ou moins performants.

Par ailleurs, la plateforme consacre une partie de son contenu à expliquer les concepts fondamentaux de la statistique sportive à un public non spécialiste. Des notions comme la valeur attendue, la variance ou la régression vers la moyenne sont expliquées dans un langage accessible, ce qui permet aux lecteurs de développer leur propre sens critique vis-à-vis de n’importe quel pronostic, qu’il provienne de Betzoid France ou d’une autre source. Cette mission éducative distingue la plateforme d’un simple agrégateur de prédictions.

L’Évolution des Pratiques d’Analyse dans le Football Français

Pour comprendre pleinement l’approche de Betzoid France, il est utile de replacer ses méthodes dans le contexte plus large de l’évolution des pratiques analytiques dans le football français. La révolution des données sportives, amorcée dans les années 2000 dans le monde anglo-saxon et progressivement adoptée en France, a profondément transformé la manière dont les matchs sont analysés, que ce soit par les clubs professionnels eux-mêmes ou par les observateurs extérieurs.

La Ligue 1, championnat de football professionnel de premier plan en France, génère aujourd’hui une quantité considérable de données par match grâce aux technologies de tracking et aux partenariats avec des fournisseurs de données spécialisés comme Opta ou StatsBomb. Ces informations — nombre de passes, zones de tir, pressing, xG (expected goals) — ont enrichi considérablement le vocabulaire analytique disponible pour quiconque souhaite construire des pronostics fondés sur des bases solides.

Betzoid France a su intégrer ces évolutions dans sa pratique. L’utilisation de la métrique xG, par exemple, permet d’évaluer la qualité des occasions créées par une équipe au-delà du simple comptage des buts marqués. Une équipe qui crée régulièrement des occasions à haute valeur xG mais qui ne les concrétise pas est statistiquement susceptible de voir ses performances s’améliorer à court terme — une information précieuse pour anticiper les scores futurs. De même, une équipe dont les gardiens réalisent des performances très supérieures à leur xG encaissé est susceptible de connaître une régression dans ses résultats défensifs.

L’intégration progressive de ces métriques avancées dans les analyses de Betzoid France témoigne d’une volonté constante d’affiner les outils de prédiction et de rester à la pointe des pratiques analytiques contemporaines. Cette évolution permanente est indispensable dans un domaine où les méthodes d’hier peuvent rapidement devenir obsolètes face à la sophistication croissante des données disponibles et des modèles concurrents.

Conclusion

Betzoid France illustre de manière exemplaire comment une approche rigoureuse, transparente et pédagogique peut transformer l’exercice périlleux du pronostic de score exact en une démarche analytique sérieuse et instructive. En combinant modèles statistiques éprouvés, analyse contextuelle approfondie et honnêteté sur les limites de la prédiction, la plateforme offre à ses lecteurs bien plus qu’une simple liste de scores anticipés : elle leur fournit les outils intellectuels pour comprendre et évaluer eux-mêmes la complexité du football. Dans un secteur trop souvent dominé par les promesses infondées, cette rigueur méthodologique constitue une valeur ajoutée réelle et durable pour tous les passionnés d’analyse footballistique.

It is our job to create more golfers

It is our job to create more golfers

On a National Broadcast of the World Match Play Championship, PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem, said more people are playing golf, just less of it. Does that even make any sense? Let’s see, I have a business with 100 customers who patronize me 10 times a month. If I do my math correctly, that is 1,000 purchases. Now I hire the commish and he sends me another 100 customers. Two hundred new customers, I’m jumping for joy and business is booming. I get greedy and service starts to suffer. My customers are only visiting me 4 times a month. But hey, I have more customers, they are just coming less. So instead of 1,000 purchases, I am now sending out 800 products each month. Does this sound like the way to sum up the state of my business?

The key words in the statement are “more golfers.” Our responsibility as professionals is to help get them playing more. That is an area where we can do better. I play golf at a lot of different courses in my area. I can’t tell you the number of times I run across a pro or staff member who could care less if I am there to play or not. We now live in a world where people have many more options to occupy their time. We can’t take for granted that golf is going to be on the top of the list. We pros can make the difference. Above and beyond should be the motto. As teachers we interact with students all the time. Most just want to enjoy the game and be with friends. So make it pleasant for them. Start a league, introduce them to each other or hold a free clinic for former students. Keep them involved. We can keep the game flourishing.
What Stokes Your Passion?

What Stokes Your Passion?

Several years ago, I was asked if I could go watch the Special Olympics participants that I had been working with for a few years at their state golf meet. The group that I worked with was called the Spring Panthers. There were about eight regular participants, but sometimes up to 15. I took my wife with me and was surprised to see several hundred people at the golf course who were from all over the state of Texas. They had several different competitions such as putting, chipping, pitching, and for those who were more advanced, they could participate in a nine-hole championship. Our most advanced player, Kevin, competed in that event and did very well.

I watched as Tracy was competing in the putting contest. The competition was to see who could make the most putts out of five on a 10-foot putt. Tracy missed all five of hers and was quite upset as she came over to me and cried as she hugged me. I watched several more of them in the different contests that were being held, and I felt my emotions getting involved as each of them were doing their best. You see, they had been looking forward to this state meet for many months, and this day was going to be their only shot at winning a medal for something that they had been anticipating for so long. You should have seen the smiles on their faces when they would make a good shot. As I watched them jump up and down in celebration, I thought to myself, “If life could only be so simple for all of us!”

After the competition was over, Jane, Kevin’s mom, asked me if they could give me something and then take a group picture with me. They presented me with a plaque that had a golf ball and a club attached to it. It had my name on it and this quote:

“Thanks for all your time and help!”

1998 Spring Panthers

I had been volunteering my services to them a couple hours every Saturday for three years. Even though I helped them without charging them, believe me when I tell you that I was, by far, getting the better deal!

They all gathered around me as we posed for the picture. The sun was in our eyes but it didn’t bother me because I was wearing sunglasses. After the picture, each one of them came up and gave me a hug and said thank you. About 20 minutes later as my wife and I were headed home, my wife said to me, “Wow, that really touched you, didn’t it?” I said “Yes, but how could you tell?” My wife looked at me and smiled as she said, “Your sunglasses were leaking!”
NO BETTER SPORT THAN GOLF TO REVEAL A PERSON’S CHARACTER

NO BETTER SPORT THAN GOLF TO REVEAL A PERSON’S CHARACTER

There’s an old saying, “It’s not what happens to you but how you react.” Kyle Stanley reacted in a spectacular way to failure.

On the 72nd hole of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, Stanley had a 3-stroke lead when he put his third shot on the par-5 into the water. After a penalty and a 3-putt, Stanley found himself in a playoff with hardened veteran Brandt Snedeker, who won on the second playoff hole. The defeat was all the more crushing because Stanley earlier had a 7-stroke lead during the final round.

You might expect Stanley, being a young guy, to take weeks or even months to recover from such an event. Nope. Stanley promptly won the following week at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix by overtaking Spencer Levin, who ironically also held a 7-stroke lead at one point. (At the time of this article, written prior to Levin’s next event, it is unknown how Levin responded.)

What we can say about Stanley is that he reacted very well to his meltdown in San Diego. He could have let it affect him negatively in Phoenix, but he chose to put it behind him and put to use whatever lessons he learned from his previous week’s failure.

Many people say golf is a reflection of a person’s character, because how they operate on the golf course is how they operate off the course. Does a person cheat at golf? Likely he will cheat in business. Does a person throw clubs and curse when things go bad? Likely he will not handle adversity very well off the course. Stanley’s instant comeback was not likely forged over a week’s time. More probable is he has always reacted to adversity in a positive manner.

Golf has also been said to develop character, but more often, it reveals it. You can learn a lot about a person simply by observing how they conduct themselves on the golf course.