Sneds shot 68, 70, 64, 68. -10 for the tournament to capture the Tour Championship and the $10 million Fed Ex Cup bonus along with the $1.440 million dollar check that goes with winning the tournament. But it wasn’t about the money to Brandt. He saw what pressure was earlier in the day with his friend Tucker Anderson hanging on for his life after being involved in a near fatal car accident two weeks ago in Pensacola, Fl. This was about Brandt being the best he could be for Tucker Anderson, who is in the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a renowned brain and spinal cord rehabilitation hospital. More on that in a minute.
Justin Rose was second at -7. Rory and Tiger not really factors on Sunday. Brandt doubled the par-3 sixth, and Steve Sands of NBC/Golf Channel was reporting that if McIlroy finished third and Sneds finished second, Rory would win the Cup. But Snedeker leveled the ship and finished with four more birdies. Snedeker was second in driving accuracy for the tournament. He averaged 294 off the tee (18th). He was hitting a high cut off the tee and it was working to perfection. Sneds led the tournament in strokes gained putting, a stat that has proven to be pivotal at the Tour Championship. Last year’s winner of the tournament and the Cup, Bill Haas, also led the tournament in strokes gained putting. Brandt was second in putts per round. He had 25 on Sunday. Driving and putting are two of the major keys to the game. Chipping pretty important as well. Brandt chipped in for birdie on 17 to take a four shot lead. That was as clutch as it gets. It was reminiscent of the Tom-Watson chip in the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Watson said to his caddie, the late Bruce Edwards, before he chipped on the 17th hole that, “I’m not going to get it close, I’m going to make it.” Right on cue, Tom did it and won over Jack Nicklaus, one of his eight majors. Sneds showed that same clutchness yesterday on 17 at East Lake. Looked like a sand wedge that he kind of got a little air under and let run into the cup. it was electrifying. A key part of of Brandt’s game recently has been his chipping. He’s really improved in that part of his game. Must have put a lot of hard work into it. Wow that was awesome.
The story behind this victory is that Brandt’s good friend, Tucker Anderson, a 19-year old freshman at West Florida University who plays on the golf team, was in a car wreck Sept.7 in Pensacola and sustained a serious brain trauma injury. He has full movement of his limbs luckily though, but cannot communicate verbally. Tucker’s dad, Todd, is Brandt’s long time swing coach. Todd teaches at Sea Island (Ga.)Golf Club. Tucker and Brandt are very tight. Brandt went to visit Tucker on yesterday morning at the Shepherd Center. Tucker was happy to see Brandt as was Brandt to see Tucker. Brandt asked Tucker, “Do you think I can beat Rory McIlroy today?” Tucker responded with a wink. This had to be exciting for Tucker as well. Surely it had to have been uplifing and could have played a small role in his recovery. Brandt considers Tucker like a little brother. Brandt put the importance of golf in perspective. He’s serious about it, it’s his job, but he knows it pales in comparison to his friend surviving a car accident and continuing on with a successful life.
Another compelling part of Brandt’s victory is that his dad, Larry, had a liver transplant last year due to liver cancer. Larry attended only Brandt’s second tournament ever yesterday. Must have been a powerful moment for Brandt seeing his father there after he rolled in the two-footer for victory. Brandt also is expecting his second child in October. He will be a boy joining 18-month old Lily and wife Mandy in the Snedeker family.
In shooting 64 on Saturday, Brandt hit 17 out of 18 greens in regulation. Quite a display of golf pulled off by Snedeker. If there was any doubt about Davis Love’s selection of Sneds for the Ryder Cup, that was erased yesterday. Brandt, to me, is the best putter in the world, so if he’s hitting his driver in the fairway, which he was doing for the entire tournament, and getting it on the green in regulation, like he did on Saturday, he’s hard to beat. His putting stroke is interesting. He makes a couple of quick runs at it in practicing and then takes kind of a jab stroke. It’s kind of a throwback. Johnny Miller compared it to Billy Casper’s stroke. Casper won multiple majors.
What compelling drama. This Fed Ex Cup has taken golf to another level of excitement. Just fantastic stuff.
Now onto the Ryder Cup at Medinah. Maybe the most important competition of the year for players in both the U.S. and Europe. I know the majors are crucial, but this is such a patriotic event. It’s powerful stuff. Can’t wait for it. Will have a preview on Thursday. Can the U.S. get the cup back from the European team? Should be dramatic. The singles matches on Sunday are must-see TV. ESPN televises all day Friday, and NBC takes over Saturday and Sunday. The pressure is tremendous and the camaraderie unlike any other competition in sports. So much national pride at stake. The Europeans take this very seriously and have clutch guys like Graeme McDowell, Rory and Sergio, who is very tough in this competition. They want to beat the Americans so badly. We’re going to have to match their intensity.
The U.S. counters with Brandt, Tiger, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Phil among others. There are some good putters on this U.S. team with Brandt, Kuchar, JIm Furyk and Steve Stricker. Should be highly compelling. The epic duel begins Friday at 8 AM ET/ 7 CT on ESPN. Saturday’s coverage on NBC starts at 9 AM ET/8 CT, and Sunday’s coverage begins at Noon ET/11 AM CT.