Redemption for Stanley as Levin collapsed

Much was made last week about how Kyle Stanley faltered coming down No. 18, with a three shot lead to inevitably lose to Brandt Snedeker in a playoff.

What a story it would have made if he could redeem himself this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a bounce back win.

The odds, and score were stacked against him as Spencer Levin took a six stroke lead over second place into the final round.

Stanley was even further back to begin on Sunday, with eight strokes separating him from Levin.

Perhaps the pressure proved too much for Levin to handle as he carded a final round score of, four-over 75, to just collapse over his final round to leave the door open to so many -- Including Stanley.

“It just wasn’t my day, obviously.” Said Levin after his round. “But I gave it away, simple as that. You have a six-shot lead and lose, you gave it away."

"My hat’s off to Kyle. He played a great round. He went and got it. But if you’ve got a six-shot lead and don’t win, then I think it’s on the player with the lead, for sure.”

Stanley, who closed with a clean card of six-under, 65. Closed the tournament out and his wild ride these past two weeks with a turn around story for the ages in the golfing world.

“I really feel for him, experiencing that,” Stanley said about Levin, mimicking what Snedeker had to say about himself last week.

“You don’t want to wish that upon anybody. He’s a very good player. Way too good of a player to not bounce back or recover.”

Tears were flowing from Stanley last week in defeat, as well as this Sunday. Though the tears streaming from his eyes were in fact tears of joy after his monumental win in the desert.

“I’m never going to forget that.” Stanley said of his collapse on 18 last week at Torrey Pines.

“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.”

In the end, Stanley's bounce back winning performance at the Waste Management Phoenix Open proves yet again, that the game of golf owes no one anything.

It also proves that from week to week, tournament to tournament, the outcome is never written. You can go from blowing a three shot lead on the final hole one week.

To over coming an eight shot deficit the next week to claim victory.

Kyle Stanley; meet redemption.