Feb. 3, 2008 -- For all of the fair weather golf fans that changed the channel when J.B. Holmes found the hazard on 15, you missed a great finish in the FBR Open. It's my understanding that there was some other sporting event going on in Arizona this Sunday, whatever that may have been. And, it looked as though the crowds thinned after Holmes lost the lead. But, pure determination lead him to victory, and his game management skills can be A Lesson Learned for golfers of any level.

J.B. Holmes celebrates a victory the came in large part because of his ability to manage his game as much as overpower the course. (Getty images)

There are many things that make J.B. Holmes a champion. The ability to launch 350 yard drives and making clutch putts of 10 feet or more could rank among his strengths. But, his ability to manage his game in the time of uncertainty secured the victory.

He said,"I didn't have my best stuff today, and I came through and won. I didn't give up. I played hard, and when I needed to make it, I did."

Anyone that's ever played the game of golf understands that there are times that the swing falters. Even at the elite level of the PGA Tour, golf remains a game of managing your mistakes. In a stretch of four holes, Holmes carded three bogeys and saw his lead evaporate.

On no. 13, a par five, Holmes could have pressured himself to trying something miraculous, after hitting a wayward drive. If he had been focused on the three bogeys that he had just made, he might have felt as though he needed to make something special happen. Instead of trying to hit the 3 wood off the desert, which would have lead us mortals to a fine triple bogey, he chose to lay up.

He played one shot at a time, and carded a much needed birdie from the fairway. The same man that's capable of hitting 350 yard drives chose to lay up. Contrast this to what I constantly see, weekend warriors that wouldn't be able to hit a 350 yard drive across a frozen lake that consistently choose to "go for it."

In the times of great ball striking, take some reasonable risks. But, in the times of struggle, manage your misses. Find a way to make no worse than a bogey and realize your scoring potential. Never dwell on the past. The most important shot that you'll ever hit is your next one.

Ted Fort, Jr. was chosen by his peers to be the 2006 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year. His home facility is Marietta Golf Center, in Marietta, Georgia. Fort also serves as a Senior Instructor with www.LynnBlakeGolf.com and teaches golf schools all over the country. For the last two years, he has been chosen to instruct a VIP clinic at the Barclays Weschester Classic, on the PGA TOUR. Ted can be reached at tufpgagolf@yahoo.com