Snedeker, Snedeker, Snedeker.
Where was the Wyndham Wizard when you needed him on Sunday out in Napa?
No where to be seen obviously.
Brandt Snedeker had a really solid week out at the Safeway, looking like he’d bookend the PGA Tour seasons. He won the Wyndham, the last event, and was looking like he’d start the cross-over season with a win at Silverado Resort. After all, he was under par early Sunday in difficult, windy conditions and led by as much as five shots.
Then he made the turn.
Three straight bogeys basically gave hope to a gaggle of contenders including drive-smashing Kevin Tway and steady Ryan Moore.
Those bogeys at 10, 11, and 12 showed an overall meltdown in every facet of Snedeker’s game. His drives couldn’t find the fairway, his irons were sad and his putter wasn’t working either — a lethal combination if you’re trying to win your 10th PGA Tour event.
Snedeker finally managed to birdie the par five 16th and got back to 15-under but didn’t stay there long. He pulled his drive at 17, tangled with a giant fir tree and saw his second fall right near the base. He’d make bogey and open the door for Moore, who birdied three of the final four holes to shoot 67 and post 14-under. Then Tway, playing alongside Snedeker, closed with birdies of his own at 17 and 18 to tie Moore and leave Sneds looking for birdie at 18. It didn’t come but the three-man playoff did.
Of course Snedeker’s meltdown continued into overtime. He failed to birdie the 18th, leaving Tway and Moore to duke it out.
Tway and Moore birdied 18 the second time then headed to 10 where Tway made a dramatic 10-footer for birdie and his first PGA Tour win.
Tway joined his father Bob in the ranks of the PGA Tour’s father-son winner combos.
“This is why you work hard — right here,” the younger Tway said after his third straight birdie in the playoff. “”I made three birdies — which is kinda good,” he added. “I’m kinda at a loss for words.”
It was his only loss of the day.
