The Golf Watch

Snedeker's Tour Championship hopes unravel, takes it like a champ

What an ending at the BMW Championship--and it had nothing to do with Tiger Woods.  Brandt Snedeker needed two putts from 14-feet to lock up a spot in the Tour Championship.  Four putts later, John Senden was in, Snedeker was out.  

A handful of reporters caught up with Snedeker, one of the Tour's nicest players, after signing autographs.  He said:

I just started thinking about the wrong things.  I didn't concentrate over the bogey putt. I was thinking about all the things The Tour Championship comes with and I did everything you're not supposed to do.

Tiger said the final group knew what Snedeker had to do on the final hole to play one more week:

The entire group knew what the situation was.  You feel bad for him. 

Some players would blame a ball mark for a missed putt from short range.  Others would evade the media altogether.  Snedeker is a little different though. 

Snedeker wore his heart on his sleeve at The Masters two years back.  This time around, Snedeker said his hiccup on the 18th couldn't be blamed on fatigue.  It was just a "full-out yip," he said.  Snedeker added:

That's the great thing about the system. You wanted more parity. You wanted more guys having putts, 3-footers, that mean something and I just showed you why 3-footers that mean something are a lot longer than they look...

It's frustrating. It's going to be a long flight home. A long couple of days off but I'll be back at Turning Stone (Resort) and be going strong.

This is a good lesson for the average golfer.  If you have a bad day on the course, think of Brandt Snedeker.  We should all strive to have that upbeat mentality, and the ability to move on. 

Snedeker sidelined with rib injury

Brandt Snedeker has had a tough '09.  He has only made three cuts in the 10 tournaments he has played. 

According to this item by Joe Biddle, Snedeker has been nursing a rib injury, which took him out of The Players Championship.

Snedeker has a playing style similar to that of Bubba Watson.  He can be all over the place with his driving at times, but his recovery shots and ball striking with his irons are so impressive, that it keeps him competitive in tournaments.

He has started to see sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella.  I think this is a mistake.

Although Snedeker is fragile, as evidenced by his emotional '08 Masters, he clearly has the determination and ability to go really low on any day. 

All Snedeker needs to do is get healthy, stay patient and the results will come.

Anchor laughs at Snedeker

Watching this video makes me truly appreciate the on air personalities on The Golf Channel.  As much as we rag on the network for airing shows like The Approach, we have to acknowledge that they at least have class...

Snedeker gets emotional during press conference

Preparing for and playing in a major championship can be an emotional rollercoaster.  Tiger Woods crying in Steve Williams arms after his win at the British Open in 2006 comes to mind.  How about Phil Mickelson's debacle at Winged Foot when he said, "I just can't believe I did that."  We witnessed another one of those moments on Sunday.  Brandt Snedeker started the day at 9-under, but shot a 5-over 77 in the final round to finish in a tie for third.  When Snedeker reached the press room, he got emotional, and left in tears.  Snedeker warned the press ahead of time:

I'll try to take some questions guys.  I can't guarantee anything right now. I'm still, obviously, a little emotional.  It's just a rough day out there.  It's hard to put that much effort in something and get so little out.  It's just part of life, part of growing up.  Obviously, I need a lot more of that.  It's just tough right now.  So, ask away, and I'll do my best.

It is refreshing as a golf fan to see a player care that much, and show that much class.  Snedeker shouldn't get down on himself about his performance.  Rather, he should be proud that he played in his first final group in a major championship and never gave up. Snedeker needs to remind himself that he is still very young (27), and will have many more opportunities.

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.   

Snedeker calls a penalty on himself, Parry wins Australian Open title

2-time PGA Tour winner Craig Parry captured his first national championship at the Australian Open earlier today by one stroke over American Brandt Snedeker, and Australians Nick O'Hern and Lee Won-joon.  Snedeker, who was voted earlier this week as the 2007 PGA Tour rookie of the year, could have won the title, if not for the 14th hole.  Snedeker called a one-stroke penalty on himself when he tried to remove a leaf from his ball, which caused the ball to move. Bernie Pramberg of The Melbourne Herald Sun called the win for Parry "one of the most popular Australian Open wins in years." An emotional Parry said after his round, "I've worked pretty hard over my whole career, and this is the one I wanted." Pramberg called Snedeker "unlucky."

Hewitt: Snedeker hottest player in Barclays field

Golf Channel analyst Brian Hewitt writes on thegolfchannel.com that due to Brandt Snedeker's win at the Wyndham Champoinship, he will be, "arguably, the hottest player in the field going into next week’s inaugural FedExCup event—The Barclays..."  Prior to his first win in Greensboro, Snedeker had finished in the top-25 in six out of his last seven events.  In addition, Hewitt writes that Snedeker is "the odds-on favorite to be voted Rookie of the Year by his peers at the end of this season."

Snedeker shoots final round 63, wins first PGA Tour event

Brandt Snedeker was already considered a favorite for rookie of the year prior to this week, but after shooting a final round 9-under 63 at the Wyndham Championship, the 26-year-old should be a lock.  Snedeker had 10 birdies and one bogey on Sunday, giving him a two-shot victory over Tim Petrovic, Jeff Overton, and Billy Mayfair.  "I still don’t really believe it right now," said Snedeker to Peter Kostis of CBS Sports.  "I’m talking a mile a minute doing everything a mile a minute just trying to realize what just happened.  It’s a great day…It’s been an unbelievable experience this week, it’s great."  Snedeker moves up to number nine in the FedEx Cup standings and is almost guaranteed to play all four events.  Jeff Overton, the third round leader, finished in a tie for second place, enabling him to sneak into the top-144 in the FedEx Cup standings.