It has been a difficult few years for J.B. Holmes. He won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2006 and again in 2008. He found the wide open spaces of TPC Scottsdale just right for his reach-back-and-hit-it-hard style.

Along with fellow Kentuckian, Kenny Perry, he was a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup team that beat the Europeans at Valhalla, near Louisville, KY and it was a special moment for him.

In 2009 Holmes began having problems with dizziness. At one point he wasn’t sure he could even walk without falling over. After medical examination, he was diagnosed with Chiari malformations.

Surgery was required to alleviate a problem with the brain stem and spinal cord bumping into each other causing the disorientation.

Anytime you hear doctors talking about brain surgery, you know it could be a career-ending type of situation.

Holmes developed an infection that required a second surgery and another recovery period.

He finally was able to return to the PGA Tour in 2012, but was not having success. On an off week, he and his wife decided to go roller blading. He caught a crack in the pavement and broke his ankle, which required more surgery and recovery time.

Since his return last season, Holmes had been steadily returning to the world-class form that brought him two PGA Tour wins.

Only Bubba Watson and possibly Dustin Johnson are as much fun to watch swing the driver. Short-stocky Holmes reaches back with his massive, Popeye-like forearms and unleashes a wicked lash at the golf ball that sends it soaring into the atmosphere with amazing speed.

Even though he possesses this immeasurable power, he also exhibits a soft touch around the greens and is a better-than-average putter. All were on display in his win this week at Quail Hollow.

His win at the Wells Fargo put a big exclamation point to the phrase, “Heeeees Baaaack!!”