--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mark of a great player is in his…" description: "\"The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. The great champions have all come back from defeat.\" — Sam Snead" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg" --- # The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back… ![“The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. The great champions have all come back from defeat.” quote by Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg) > “The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. The great champions have all come back from defeat.” [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great athletes are defined by their ability to recover from defeat and return stronger. **In simple terms:** Comebacks define greatness. Key Takeaway Embrace failure as a stepping stone. Themes sports resilience achievement Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - competition - training - career setbacks Key Concepts growth mindset psychological endurance Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you bounce back after loss? - How do you measure progress after a setback? A Different Perspective Recovery requires time and resources not always available. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Champions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champions/) [Champions Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champions-come-773312/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Great Champions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-champions-2073815/) [Great player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-player/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-ability-1126596/) [Sports psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that we will see a lot of great champions come out of the Philippines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-arlovski/i-believe-that-we-will-see-a-lot-of-great-champions-come-out-of-the/) [Andrei Arlovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-arlovski/) > [You always recognize great champions... how they come back from a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/you-always-recognize-great-champions-how-they-come-back-from-a-loss/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [In difficult moments, champions come through, and not by listening to what is being said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/in-difficult-moments-champions-come-through-and-not-by-listening-to/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [Champions come and go, but to be legendary you got to have heart, more heart than the next man, more than anyone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/champions-come-and-go-but-to-be-legendary-you-got-to-have-heart-more/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Great Champions after knocking you down in a game will try to lift you up again. Why? To them, you've lost in the Game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/great-champions-after-knocking-you-down-in-a-game-will-try-to-lift/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Great champions have an enormous sense of pride. The people who excel are those who are driven to show the world and prove to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-lopez/great-champions-have-an-enormous-sense-of-pride-the-people-who-excel/) [Nancy Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-lopez/) > [The great champions were always vicious competitors. You never lose respect for a man who is a vicious competitor, and you never hate a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-gonzales/the-great-champions-were-always-vicious-competitors-you-never-lose/) [Pancho Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-gonzales/) > [I just want to leave a mark on the sport of boxing so people talk about me like they talk about the other great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-crawford/i-just-want-to-leave-a-mark-on-the-sport-of-boxing-so-people-talk/) [Terence Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-crawford/) > [At the end of the day, great champions can take a good loss and great champions can take a good win, just like they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-broner/at-the-end-of-the-day-great-champions-can-take-a-good-loss-and-great/) [Adrien Broner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-broner/) > [Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat- and I expect us to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/only-true-champions-come-out-and-show-their-worth-after-defeat-and-i/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Well, for me, I don't need validation from no one to tell me what type of player I am or number to tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-jones/well-for-me-i-don-t-need-validation-from-no-one-to-tell-me-what-type/) [Julio Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-jones/) > [We're going to try to tailor our offense to our player's ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/we-re-going-to-try-to-tailor-our-offense-to-our-player-s-ability/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [When an injury robs a player of his ability to train the way he's accustomed to, there is nearly always an alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kapler/when-an-injury-robs-a-player-of-his-ability-to-train-the-way-he-s/) [Gabe Kapler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kapler/) > [You're always loath to take a player off of his ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-southgate/you-re-always-loath-to-take-a-player-off-of-his-ability/) [Gareth Southgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-southgate/) > [Sancho is a player who has everything. He has fantastic speed, great technique, a good eye for his colleagues, and that key pass. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/sancho-is-a-player-who-has-everything-he-has-fantastic-speed-great/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) ## More by Sam Snead > [I'd say that golf is about 75% mental. If your state of mind gets out of kilter, you're worse off than a tomcat floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-d-say-that-golf-is-about-75-mental-if-your-state-of-mind-gets-out/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [There is an old saying: if a man comes home with sand in his cuffs and cockleburs in his pants, don't ask him what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/there-is-an-old-saying-if-a-man-comes-home-with-sand-in-his-cuffs-and/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [You've just one problem. You stand too close to the ball after you've hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/you-ve-just-one-problem-you-stand-too-close-to-the-ball-after-you-ve/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [When I swing at a golf ball right, my mind is blank and my body is loose as a goose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/when-i-swing-at-a-golf-ball-right-my-mind-is-blank-and-my-body-is/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > ['You know Bobby, when I was your age I'd drive the ball right over those trees at the corner.' Feeling challenged Mr. Cole hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/you-know-bobby-when-i-was-your-age-i-d-drive-the-ball-right-over/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Just have a Coke or something and watch the boys go past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/just-have-a-coke-or-something-and-watch-the-boys-go-past/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Keep close count of your nickels and dimes, stay away from whiskey, and never concede a putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/keep-close-count-of-your-nickels-and-dimes-stay-away-from-whiskey-and/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Playing golf is like eating. It's something which has to come naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/playing-golf-is-like-eating-it-s-something-which-has-to-come-naturally/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [The three things I fear most in golf are lightning, Ben Hogan and a downhill putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/the-three-things-i-fear-most-in-golf-are-lightning-ben-hogan-and-a/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Forget your opponents; always play against par.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/forget-your-opponents-always-play-against-par/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I looked like a monkey trying to wrestle a football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-looked-like-a-monkey-trying-to-wrestle-a-football/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I believe in destiny...what's going to be is going to be. If I'm going to win, I'm going to win...I don't give a damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-believe-in-destiny-what-s-going-to-be-is-going-to-be-if-i-m-going/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [What abandoned course is that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/what-abandoned-course-is-that/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Nobody asked how you looked, just what you shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/nobody-asked-how-you-looked-just-what-you-shot/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on back then. We had crab grass. I remember one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-ve-been-on-some-fairways-that-are-as-good-as-the-greens-we-putted/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) [Explore all 69 Sam Snead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. The great champions have all come back from defeat.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Snead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-ability-to-come-back-the-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-ability-to-come-back-the-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/sam-snead-9856_ability_the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-abi_2939455.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. The great champions have all come back from defeat.” — Sam Snead", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Snead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The mark of a great player...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-ability-to-come-back-the-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/the-mark-of-a-great-player-is-in-his-ability-to-come-back-the-great/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```