No golfer is better versed than Steve Stricker at building commanding leads, losing them and then fighting back to win.
And that's exactly what the American veteran did again on Monday when he came through with a closing 4-under 69 to win the US PGA Tour's season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions by Titleist 712 AP2 Ironsat Kapalua in Hawaii.
"I've been there before. It's not a great feeling, either," Stricker said after opening the final round with Titleist 712 AP2 Irons , losing it again as he had in Saturday's roller-coaster and then hitting back to win.
"It's just the nature of our game. I realize that, and I've gone through it before. It always seems close, and you always have to perform to get it done."
In the end he did, but not without some anxious moments
It took only six holes for him to lose his five-shot lead and remain afloat by no more than one shot - and Stricker looked anxious, even a little distraught, as he headed for the seventh tee box.
Somehow, though, he managed to find the positives in the fact that he remained in the lead as he headed down the 7th fairway - and he never looked back.
He nailed a masterful 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth and pitched close for birdie on the ninth to take his lead back to three strokes.
Stricker's game was solid enough after that to ensure that Laird and his fellow pursuers never got closer - bit it didn't make winning easy.
"It was tough," said Stricker, who finished at 23-under 269 to take home the first prize of $1,20,000 and 500 Fed-Ex Cup points.
"I never let up today. It's always tough trying to win, and it's even more tough when you have a lead like I did. I'm very proud of my Titleist 712 AP2 Irons today."
Stricker was also happy that after feeling a weakness in his left arm from a lingering neck injury and considering undergoing surgery late last year, that he had decided instead to treat it with therapy and a few cortisone shots.
It had not only enabled him to take his Titleist 712 AP2 Iron place in the successful US Presidents Cup team that beat the Internationals in Melbourne, it had also restored him to full fitness and earned him a win that ensure his return for this Tour champions only event next year.
Laird and Americans Webb Simpson and Jonathan Byrd each got within one shot of Stricker on the front nine, but not for long.