Life is a Beach for Snedeker

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Brandt Snedeker proved the old adage when he put a wretched run of form behind him to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

A six-time winner on the PGA Tour, Snedeker's last victory came at the 2013 Canadian Open. And last year was one he will want to forget. He struggled to make cuts and tumbled down the world rankings, missing out on a place in the US Ryder Cup team.

It was hard to fathom because Snedeker is a man who has everything - a glorious swing,  a fabulous touch with his short irons and a putting stroke to die for. But it all went south in 2014 when he decided to make some swing changes and lost his game. Why do they do that?

However, the changes have started to work. He had already managed three top 10 finishes this season and now he is back with a bang, having seen off a world-class field at one of the finest golf courses in the world to secure himself a place in the field for The Masters. Not that his golf was perfect - far from it at times. But the chasing
pack were unable to take advantage.

Jason Day cleared the par-three 17th green by fully 50 yards to drop a shot when he was threatening to challenge Snedeker. Jordan Spieth, in contention yet again, couldn't buy a putt, and Nick Watney, coming back to something approaching his best, missed too many fairways off the tee to keep the pressure on, failing to take advantage of the par
fives.

There were many eyes on Dustin Johnson, in his second comeback event at a venue where he has won twice.  He birdied four of the last six holes for a final round of 66 to finish on 17 under.

Final round highlights from the AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q69YhK0hLrMV

"I love all the courses we play in this tournament, and I had great fun playing with Wayne [Gretzkey, the father of his girlfriend]. I hit a lot of great shots and feel like I am getting close.  I am glad to be back. People have their opinions about why I was away for six months but the people who are close to me know the truth. I just want to keep playing now and getting better," Johnson said,

Sometimes you just know it is going to be your day. Snedeker hit a poor drive at the 15th but caught the back of a bunker and the ball shot forward some 50 yards into the centre of the fairway. He put his approach 15 feet away and drained the putt to move into a five-shot lead on 22 under par, ahead of Johnson, Day, Watney, Charlie Beljan and Pat Perez, who is another Pebble Beach specialist. Beljan reduced the deficit to four when he birdied the 18th.

Watney joined Beljan on 18 under with a  birdie two at the 17th, but the final hole was a victory parade for Snedeker, allowing him to taking in the breathtaking scenery and enjoy the moment. A par at the last gave him a 67 and a record winning score of 266, 22 under par. He dropped just one shot all week.

Watney finished second on his own after holing a 30-foot uphill putt on the final green.

"It feels awesome," said a tearful Snedeker. "It was a great day. I didn't play perfectly but I did everything I had to do and I am so thankful to be back in this position."

Image credit - PGA Tour Facebook Page