PALM DESERT,Calif. -- In the past, the same circumstances might have caused Pat Perez to explode, toss a club or let loose with the wrong word at the wrong time to the wrong person.

But even in the face of a wind-blown 73, a closing bogey and a score 13 shots higher than he shot in the first round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Perez worked hard Thursday to maintain what he hopes will be a new attitude and a new reputation on the golf course.

Still remembered for an on-course explosion that saw him hammering a 3-wood into the ground at the 2002 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Perez could easily have let that same temper take control Thursday. In winds that blew 25 to 30 mph, Perez made three bogeys in his first six holes, including hitting his opening tee shot into a lake.

Instead, Perez maintained control and rallied to pull back to even par for the day through 17 holes. His closing bogey, featuring a 4-iron into a lake on the par-5, dropped him to 73 for the day and into a tie for second at 11-under, four shots behind Chad Campbell.

“To grind back and birdie those holes into the wind and downwind and cross wind and then you have no wind on 18, to make a 6, it’s just so beyond unacceptable, I can’t believe it,” Perez said.

As unhappy as he was, Perez was still measured in his post-round comments, focusing on the wind that played havoc with all four Bob Hope Chrysler Classic courses.

"It started and it stopped and it started,” Perez said. “It was just howling out there. You get out on a couple of holes, well, I hit two drives m238 on the back nine. It’s just hard.”

Perez even took some of the blame for the round on himself, pointing out that of his four rounds this year -- two at the Sony Open in Hawaii and two at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic -- three have been in the wind, and he’s failed to break par in those rounds.

By staying in control and not letting his temper loose, though, Perez stayed near the top of the leaderboard. That’s the kind of result he says he’s hoping for as he works to change his attitude about himself and his golf career.

Pat Perez birdied three consecutive holes during Thursday's action. (Greenwood/ WireImage)

“I’m really trying to work on first changing my reputation and having a huge attitude and bad temper and the whole thing,” Perez said. “I think that’s after the thing that happened with the Honda. I started to realize a little bit more how stupid it is and how embarrassing it is.”

At The Honda Classic last year Perez made obscene hand gestures to his golf ball after missing short putts. But the time he returned to his Scottsdale, Ariz. Home for the off-season, Perez was already thinking about how to change his on-course demeanor.

“I said I’m going to change all this and I don’t want any of this anymore,” said Perez, 29. “The only way to do it is have people see you play well.”

Another way is to avoid a blowup in a situation where one might be expected or even excused. After a 60 in PGA West on Wednesday to take a three-shot lead, Perez lost that lead Thursday by the time he walked onto the fourth tee. But the meltdown never came, perhaps the first big test of Perez’ new approach.

That’s not to say that Perez was shy in his opinions, or in saying he was happy to get out of the wind and away from Classic Club.

“I can’t wait to get to Bermuda Dunes tomorrow,” Perez said. “I can’t wait. I’m (angry) because of the 6 (to close the round). But in 20 minutes when I’m eating, I’ll be just fine.”