Reversal of fortunes for Stanley, Levin in Phoenix
Kyle Stanley knows how tough it is to lose a large lead in the final round of a PGA TOUR event.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Even Kyle Stanley admitted he didn't expect redemption to come as quickly as it did.
Seven days ago, the 24-year-old had let the Farmers Insurance Open title slip out of his clutches. He led by five at the start of the final round and was still up by three when he came to the 18th hole at Torrey Pines in pursuit of what seemed sure to be his first PGA TOUR win.
But Stanley watched forlornly that afternoon as his third shot at the par 5 was sucked off the green. A three-putt later, he had posted an 8 and was off to a playoff that Brandt Snedeker, who had been in the media center watching the disaster on TV, won on the second extra hole.
Stanley's brave face but bitter tears that evening had said it all.
On the very next Sunday, this time at TPC Scottsdale, Spencer Levin was poised for a similar coronation. He led by six at the start of the final round and was seemingly doing everything right. Kyle Stanley trailed by eight, just as Snedeker had the previous week.
This time, though, in a dramatic reversal of fortunes, Stanley emerged as the winner -- firing a brilliant 65 on a warm and welcoming afternoon to take the one-stroke victory.
"I think the biggest challenge was seeing if I could put last week behind me," Stanley said simply. "I think I did."
Levin, on the other hand, was cast in Stanley's role as he shot a 75 that included a double bogey on the par-5 15th hole, the third-easiest on the course. After an adventure in the cactus and a 5-iron that fell short in the water, he surrendered sole possession of the lead and was never able to catch up.
As disappointed as the shell-shocked Levin was, he understood the magnitude of what Stanley accomplished in the span of the last 168 hours. And he'd like nothing better than to have the same opportunity this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
