BRANDT SNEDEKER SCOOPS THE £10million JACKPOT WITH THREE-STROKE WIN
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
One up to America - £10million up to Brandt Snedeker as Rory McIlroy was denied the jackpot which his FedEx play-offs form had deserved.
Snedeker, the US Ryder Cup rookie, sent himself to Medinah with a three-stroke win and a boost to his confidence perhaps as large as that to his bank balance.
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By JAMES CORRIGAN
One up to America - £10million up to Brandt Snedeker as Rory McIlroy was denied the jackpot which his FedEx play-offs form had deserved.
Snedeker, the US Ryder Cup rookie, sent himself to Medinah with a three-stroke win and a boost to his confidence perhaps as large as that to his bank balance.
This was not a good day at East Lake for McIlroy, who shot a 74 to drop back
to 10th on one-under. But then, after 11 successive rounds in the sixties
and three wins from his previous four events, perhaps this come-down was
inevitable.
And the world No 1 will content himself with the fact that the inspired
Snedeker would have scooped the bounty no matter where McIlroy finished
behind him. Of course, the $3 million bonus the Northern Irishman receives
for finishing second in the FedEx Cup was another factor to comfort him as
he set off for Chicago.
“I knew I needed to win this week,” said McIlroy. “But I’ve had a great time
in these play-offs, winning two of them back-to-back. I’ve got to stay
positive; it’s been a great year.”
José Maria Olazábal will surely not be too sorry that McIlroy will arrive at
Medinah minus the pressure the FedEx title would have brought.
The European captain will certainly be delighted with the runner-up finish in
the Tour Championship for Justin Rose, courtesy of a brave 15-footer for par
on the 18th for a 71.
And one back in third place there was Luke Donald, perfecting one of his late runs with a 67 to tie for third with American Ryan Moore.
And one back in third place there was Luke Donald, perfecting one of his late runs with a 67 to tie for third with American Ryan Moore.
However, Olazábal’s Ryder Cup counterpart, Davis Love, will garner so much
satisfaction from Snedeker’s $11.44 million (£7.4 million) payday. Snedeker
promised to make Love look a genius for handing him a wildcard and, in the
event, did so a week earlier than expected.
Snedeker has never won while leading from the front before. Twice he had failed – third time plucky. This title success should have hurtled his self-belief all the way to Illinois without the need of a private jet.
This is the way to win the FedEx Cup – add the winning cheque to the outrageous bonus. The blond-haired boy from Memphis led his rivals a merry dance with a show of putting which bodes so well for the American team.
Remarkably, he only missed one putt inside eight feet all week. His 68 meant Snedeker was the only player to finish on double digits on 10-under. His chip-in on the 17th summed up his day as well as his talent on and around the greens.
The 31 year-old drew clear of Rose, the joint overnight leader, with a 10-footer on the third and despite a visit to the water on the wicked par-three sixth he held his nerve as imperviously as he swung his putter.
A 40-footer on the eighth, a 12-footer on the 10th, a 15-footer on the 13th, he holes what he wants. The birdie on the penultimate hole made his glory a formality, Snedeker blowing his tee-shot into the grandstand on the par-three 18th.
“I don’t know where it came from but I had complete confidence today,” said Snedeker, who was eight-under for the weekend. I know now that I have the ability to do that and will try to take it forward to Medinah.”
Tiger Woods was never a factor, his Sunday blues striking the man in red once again. A 72 left him tied for eighth place on two-under.
“My short game was really dialled in, but I certainly need to hit it better than I did here,” said the American, before looking forward to Medinah.
“We are a team with one common goal and that is to go out there and beat the Europeans.”
Olazábal might be concerned with Lee Westwood finishing last in this 30-man field. But the world No 4 came off after his 74 left him adrift on 15-over with a broad smile. The reason? He had just won a bet with his playing partner Nick Watney.
“There was enough on it to keep it interesting and hopefully a sign of things to come,” he said. “It’s my first time in the play-offs and Bethpage was the only course I’d played before. So I’m not concerned. My game is not far away.”
A good job really, as neither is the Ryder Cup. Four days and counting.
Snedeker has never won while leading from the front before. Twice he had failed – third time plucky. This title success should have hurtled his self-belief all the way to Illinois without the need of a private jet.
This is the way to win the FedEx Cup – add the winning cheque to the outrageous bonus. The blond-haired boy from Memphis led his rivals a merry dance with a show of putting which bodes so well for the American team.
Remarkably, he only missed one putt inside eight feet all week. His 68 meant Snedeker was the only player to finish on double digits on 10-under. His chip-in on the 17th summed up his day as well as his talent on and around the greens.
The 31 year-old drew clear of Rose, the joint overnight leader, with a 10-footer on the third and despite a visit to the water on the wicked par-three sixth he held his nerve as imperviously as he swung his putter.
A 40-footer on the eighth, a 12-footer on the 10th, a 15-footer on the 13th, he holes what he wants. The birdie on the penultimate hole made his glory a formality, Snedeker blowing his tee-shot into the grandstand on the par-three 18th.
“I don’t know where it came from but I had complete confidence today,” said Snedeker, who was eight-under for the weekend. I know now that I have the ability to do that and will try to take it forward to Medinah.”
Tiger Woods was never a factor, his Sunday blues striking the man in red once again. A 72 left him tied for eighth place on two-under.
“My short game was really dialled in, but I certainly need to hit it better than I did here,” said the American, before looking forward to Medinah.
“We are a team with one common goal and that is to go out there and beat the Europeans.”
Olazábal might be concerned with Lee Westwood finishing last in this 30-man field. But the world No 4 came off after his 74 left him adrift on 15-over with a broad smile. The reason? He had just won a bet with his playing partner Nick Watney.
“There was enough on it to keep it interesting and hopefully a sign of things to come,” he said. “It’s my first time in the play-offs and Bethpage was the only course I’d played before. So I’m not concerned. My game is not far away.”
A good job really, as neither is the Ryder Cup. Four days and counting.
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CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, September 23, 2012
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