Kyle Stanley: The comeback kid

By: Naimah Jabali-Nash
Topics: Golf

Kyle Stanley kisses the trophy after winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 5, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

(Credit: Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(CBS/AP) A week ago Kyle Stanley came undone on the 18th and all anyone could do was watch. On Sunday, at the Phoenix Open, Stanley got his redemption.

"You go from a very low point to a high point," Stanley told the Associated Press. "I'm not sure I expected to maybe recover this quickly. ... I think the biggest challenge was seeing if I could put last week behind me. I think I did..."

He did indeed.

The 24-year-old made a remarkable comeback, closing in on an eight stroke lead, and firing a bogey-free final round score of 65 to clinch his first PGA Tour win over Spencer Levin and Ben Crane.

It was the ending that seemed inevitable for him last week as he headed to the final hole at Torrey Pines with a three-stroke lead, but instead, it turned into van de Velde catastrophe when Stanley rolled his third shot into the water and three-putted for a triple-bogey forcing a playoff with eventual champion, Brandt Snedeker.

"I'm never going to forget that," Stanley said. "But I think it makes this one a lot sweeter, just being able to bounce back. I'm kind of at a loss for words. I'm very grateful for the support I've gotten. It's unbelievable. Unbelievable turnaround."

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