After a winless drought and lots of hard work, Ben Curtis is back on top after winning the Valero Texas Open. What's interesting is that over the last two weeks we have discussed two guys -- Bubba Watson and Carl Pettersson -- that haven't really changed their swings over the years and have elected to be their own swing coach. However, this week, we have a winner in Ben Curtis who has done lots of work to his swing and overall game to get back into the winner's circle.

During this time, I have thought a lot about much of the publicity that Bubba Watson and Carl Pettersson have received about their home-bred swings, and how this has perhaps slightly tainted today's coaching model that consists of swing instructors, trainers, sports psychologists, high speed cameras, launch monitors and more. Of course, working in the coaching business, I like to think we can help all golfers, but the reality is that golf instruction and technology is not for everybody.

TRAVIS' TIP

So the question becomes: Is golf instruction for you? Here are a handful of things to think about, just as Ben Curtis did when he made the decision to change his swing and work on his game to get back on top.

1. Are you happy with your skillset? Every day at the TOUR Academies, we work to help golfers improve their skillset -- whether it's hit a draw off the tee, take a more consistent divot with the irons, improved bunker play, etc. Educating golfers on what they need to do to improve their skillset can be a great experience.

Key: Good information in the right order.

2. Are you happy with your approach to the game? One of the most important things in golf is managing your expectation level to the amount of time you are putting into it. Only you can decide your definition of fun. Educating golfers on what they need to do to help manage their time is an important issue to the popularity and growth of our sport.

Key: Good attitude with a balanced approach.

3. Are you taking responsibility with your game? There is no bigger distraction to one's game then blaming the golf course or others when it comes to measuring results. The reality is this: Golf is one of the most independent games you will ever play. As a golfer, you need to own your game, but also understand there are trained professionals that can help you in the areas of the game that may be in need of assistance.

Key: Take control of your game and own it.

Travis Fulton is the Director of Instruction at the TOUR Academies at TPC Sawgrass and the World Golf Village. For more information on the TOUR Academy, click here .

The pairings have been unveiled for this week’s PGA TOUR Matchups Game on Facebook. You can check out the Matchups for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans below, or on the PGA TOUR’s Facebook page. Participants have until 6 a.m. ET Thursday to make their picks. Log on to the PGA TOUR Facebook page and click the Matchups link to make your picks for this week, or to sign up. GO TO FACEBOOK PAGE TO PLAY MATCHUPS GAME

Bubba Watson vs. Keegan Bradley	Two major winners square off. Bubba is the reigning champ.
Graeme McDowell vs. Luke Donald	Two Euros inside the FedExCup top 30 do battle in NoLa.
Nick Watney vs. David Toms	Who wins between these past champions off to slow '12 starts?
Ben Curtis vs. Ben Crane	Battling Bens, both boasting four wins, head to TPC Louisiana.
Webb Simpson vs. Steve Stricker	Consistency is key for both players. Which one has the edge?

Ben Curtis got his first win in six years, shooting an even-par 72 on Sunday to win the Valero Texas Open by two over John Huh and Matt Every.

After the round, Curtis, who had limited status on the PGA TOUR after finishing outside the top 125 on the money list last season, fought back tears, saying, "It's been a tough couple of years."

Leading by three at the start of the day, Curtis fell into a tie for the lead on a few occasions but never trailed on another difficult day of scoring at TPC San Antonio.

After back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes, Curtis dropped into a tie for the lead with Matt Every. Three holes later, however, Every made a bogey of his own to fall one behind and into a tie with John Huh.

On the 17th hole, it looked like Curtis would again drop a shot and into a tie for the lead when he bladed a wedge over the green. Instead, he rolled in a 23-foot curling, left-to-right putt to save par and keep his lead.

With Every and Huh both trailing by one coming to the par-5 18th, neither was able to make birdie, meaning that Curtis had two putts to win. He only needed one, rolling in the 12-footer for birdie.

The victory is the first for the former British Open champ since the 2006 84 Lumber Classic and comes nine years after his improbable triumph at Royal St. George’s. It is his fourth career win and moves him to 28th in the FedExCup standings.

Ben Curtis got his first victory in six years on Sunday with a two-shot win at the Valero Texas Open. The win locks up his PGA TOUR card for the next two years and moves him to 28th in the FedExCup standings. Congratulate him below and we’ll pass it along.

The good news for Ben Curtis? He leads by three strokes as he gets set to tee off in about 25 minutes. The bad news? The last time someone led by at least three strokes going into the final round of this event they ended up losing. That was in 2007, by the way, when Jesper Parnevik failed to hang on and Justin Leonard went on to win.

Curtis, however, has won twice when holding at least a share of the lead going into the final round, the last of which came at the 2006 84 Lumber Classic, which also happens to be his last victory on the PGA TOUR.

More good news: Dating to 2000, eight third-round leaders of the Valero Texas Open have held on for the win, most recently Brendan Steele last year. Six 54-hole leaders this year have held on for the win, the last coming just last week when Carl Pettersson won at Harbour Town.

Here are three other very important facts concerning Curtis: He’s second this week in driving accuracy, first in greens in regulation and first in strokes gained-putting. No wonder he was able to survive to double bogeys on Saturday and still lead. Now the question is, can he win?