We are only two months into the 2016 calendar year, but it is almost guaranteed that there will be no better comeback story on the PGA Tour this year than what Vaughn Taylor was able to accomplish.

Taylor, who prior to this week had won twice on the PGA Tour, had not won in 11 years. After playing on the 2006 Ryder Cup team, Taylor's career took a downturn. He's mostly been playing on the Web.com Tour the past several years, though he didn't have a card on either Tour entering this week, and was relying on his past champions status to get into tournaments. He got sick last week, which prevented him from playing on the Web.com Tour. He got into this tournament as an alternate, and was able to shoot a final round 65 to not only beat the likes of Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson, but he also chased down Phil Mickelson on the final day. All of that, by itself, would make Taylor's accomplishment look like a movie.

Throw in the fact that Taylor almost died two years ago, and you'll be hard pressed to find a better story in the history of the sport.

“It’s been a long time,” said Taylor, according to USA Today. “I didn’t think it would happen. And I just can’t believe it actually happened today. It’s amazing. I’ve worked so hard but I just kept getting knocked down and knocked down. I’m at a loss for words."

Now, instead of worrying about where and when he's going to play, Taylor will be fully exempt on the PGA Tour for the next two seasons. He also has an invitation to come home - Taylor is from Augusta, Georgia - and play in the Masters for the first time since 2008.

“Now I’m playing in the Masters soon. It’s a dream come true.”

Disney couldn't write this feel good story.

Phil Thrills, But Comes Up Short

Phil Mickelson, looking to end a two year losing drought, entered the final round with a two shot lead. In typical Phil fashion, he didn't hold back. After two early bogeys, Phil looked to be losing some steam, but birdies on the 6th and 8th holes put him back in the drivers seat. He exchanged two birdies with two bogeys on the back nine and watched as Taylor completed his comeback story at his expense. Phil walks away disappointed, but for a man who wasn't in contention often the past two years, another good week is a positive sign moving forward.

“It tells me I need to do a little work,” Mickelson said of his final round. “But I’m more determined to get back to work and get this right. I know I’m close. I know I’m on the right track. I’m having more fun playing golf as I have had in years. As disappointing as it was not to get the win, it was so much fun to get back into contention.”

It's rare when you can say that a 45 year old is "improving", but that is exactly what is happening with Lefty. That drought is in serious trouble.

Iwata Gets A Boost

Hiroshi Iwata, the Japan Tour veteran who joined the PGA Tour this season as a rookie, struggled out of the gates. In the seven tournaments he played prior to the Farmers Insurance Open, Iwata missed the cut four times and finished no better than T44. For someone once ranked inside the top 100 in the world, the start had to be disappointing for Iwata.

The last two tournaments, however, will make sleep a little easier for the 35 year old.

Iwata was in contention at Torrey Pines until the wind swept final round knocked him down the leaderboard. Still, he finished T18, which gave him confidence entering this week. After taking the second round lead, he entered the final round two shots back of Mickelson. The nerves were clearly there for Iwata, who played in the final pairing on the PGA Tour for the first time, but he held steady on Sunday and finished T4, his best finish since the T3 finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in 2014 that made Iwata famous. Iwata vaults back up to 91st in the Official World Golf Rankings, and now finds himself in a battle to represent Japan in the Olympics.