Snedeker runs into bad luck, cracks driver

2007 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Brandt Snedeker had the first round lead at the Mercedes-Benz Championship at 5-under-par as he approached the par-4 17th hole.  Snedeker hit his tee shot in the middle of the club face and even Golf Channel announcer Billy Andrade called it a "beautiful swing."  But when Snedeker went to find his ball, he realized that it had only gone about 180 yards.  Snedeker's driver had cracked on the top of the face and was no longer hittable.  He went on to double-bogey the hole.  Then on the 660+ yard par-5 18th, Snedeker was forced to use a 3-wood and would bogey the hole, finishing at 2-under-par overall.  "I don’t know, it’s the first time it’s ever happened to me," said Snedeker after his round.  "I had this driver for a long time…It’s been two years that I’ve had it in the bag.  I cracked the top of the line of it.  I hit a good drive on 17, ripped it up, and thought I was right in the middle of the fairway, and ended up right in the middle of the hazard, went about 180 yards."  Fortunately, Snedeker brought an extra driver this week which he will use for the remaining three rounds.