Top 20 in their 20s: No. 11  Editor's Note: Our "Top 20 in Their 20s" series continues as PGATOUR.com counts down the top golfers on the PGA TOUR aged 20-29 over the next two weeks. The list is based on 14 statistical categories, including TOUR wins, Official World Golf Ranking, percentage of time spent in the top 10 throughout their career and 2007 FedExCup performance. Get to know No. 11: Brandt Snedeker.
When we started brainstorming for this Top 20 in their 20s series in late May, Brandt Snedeker would have been closer to the bottom of the list. He was a great guy having a great year with tons of potential, but he hadn't captured a PGA TOUR title.
The two-time Nationwide Tour winner began his first year on the PGA TOUR in 2007 the way many rookies start out. In his first start, he was cut. In his second, he tied for 60th. But then his season took a turn for the better. Playing in the Buick Invitational on Torrey Pines' North Course, Snedeker shot a career-low 61. He followed that up with rounds of 70-74-71 on one of the TOUR's harder courses, Torrey Pines' South Course, to finish third and notch his first top 10 in a TOUR event. Snedeker said he was so nervous sleeping on the 54-hole lead that he could barely even get his breakfast down the next morning. Hearing the crowd yell his name gave Snedeker the adrenaline rush he needed. "I cannot tell you how unbelievable it was walking down every fairway and having the crowd cheer me on," Snedeker said. "That makes a big difference to me. It gets me excited to be out there, and it puts a smile on my face and puts me in a good mood." By summer, Snedeker was making an even bigger name for himself. He finished in the top 25 eight of 11 times, starting with THE PLAYERS Championship in May. He was not far off in the John Deere Classic, finishing tied for 32nd. Snedeker had a standout finish in a tie for 23rd at the U.S. Open. In his third major, Snedeker held his own and even saw his name up on the leaderboard.
"[My style is] probably the complete opposite of a U.S. Open," Snedeker said. "I don't really drive it that straight for as medium of length, but I'm a great grinder." While some men struggled to fight the treacherous Oakmont Country Club greens, Snedeker, on the other hand, relished the challenge. "I love it when the conditions are tough," Snedeker said. "I love getting up-and-down for pars. I love making eight, nine, 10 footers for par." His crazy summer culminated in a win at the 2007 Wyndham Championship. Snedeker wound up 20th overall in the final FedExCup standings and captured Rookie of the Year honors at season's end. And if all that weren't enough, Snedeker almost grabbed his first international victory this week in Australia -- coming in tied for second place. Look out for No. 11 in 2008. Who is No. 10? Hint: Jack Nicklaus had this to say in September about this golfer's 2007 campaign: "If there is a young player who has played better in the last six months, I don't know who it is." |
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