By BBC Sport Online's Sanjeev Shetty The most important figure in Retief Goosen's professional career has been sport psychologist Jos Vanstiphout.
It was the Belgian who propelled Goosen towards the top of the European Tour during the late 1990s.
After Goosen's dramatic failure to win the US Open on the 18th hole, Vanstiphout had his work cut out to repair the South African's confidence.
But the softly-spoken South African showed his nerve in Monday's 18-hole play-off.
Broken arm
But Goosen is used to bouncing back after cruel luck.
Indeed, he was once struck by lightning when playing as an amateur.
The 32-year-old, born in Johannesburg but now living just outside Sunningdale in Surrey, turned to Vanstiphout after a mixed start to his professional career.
Goosen came from the same class of amateurs as compatriot Ernie Els but he struggled in the professional ranks.
A broken arm sustained in a skiing accident did him few favours and it was only after the meeting with Vanstiphout that things began to change.
Four European Tour victories, three of them in France, hinted that the South African was at last realising some of his potential.
 Goosen triumphed over Brooks by two shots
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Goosen silenced a few more of the critics during the World Matchplay tournament at Wentworth in 1999. Playing against Spain's Sergio Garcia, he completed the front nine in just 29.
With his fluent iron play and improved putting style - aided by a tip from the legendary Nick Price - Goosen has the perfect game to win a tournament like the US Open.
And part of his mental make-up is that of a front-runner - he has won most of his tournaments after taking the first round lead.
And at Southern Hills he led from the front all the way.
Compatriot Ernie Els, who won the 1994 and 1997 US Opens, outlined Goosen's key qualities on the eve of the play-off.
"His mind, his ability to hang in there, and he's not afraid," he said.
Typically, unlike British Open chokers Doug Sanders in 1970 and Jean Van de Velde in 1999, Goosen managed to bounce back to take his second chance.
