Brandt Snedeker didn’t hit a shot Monday, but his stunning play Sunday was good enough to win the Farmers Insurance Open.
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City golf manager Mark Marney estimated Monday that there were as many as 20 trees felled on the North and South courses, a lot of them eucalyptuses, though Marney said at least two prized Torrey pines also came down.
Brandt Snedeker drives on the first tee box during the third round of the Sony Open golf tournament, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Honolulu.
But Snedeker caught a lucky break when the winds that buffeted the field on Sunday continued to whip across the course on Monday, causing havoc among those who had to complete the round.
The weather over the last 48 hours at Torrey Pines presented some all-time brutal scoring conditions that will be remembered for a long time.
Turns out the wind was just as bad – perhaps even worse considering the change in direction – and no one could top his score of 6-under 282, the highest score to win at Torrey Pines since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, a full year before Snedeker was even born.
THE ROUND: Snedeker missed a 15-foot par putt on his opening hole, and he wasn’t alone.
Instead he settled for a par and a 76 that gave him solo second on 283, one shot in front of Kevin Streelman who posted a 74 for 284.
Fellow American Jimmy Walker started Monday with a one shot lead through 10 holes but bogeyed the 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes in gusty winds to falter to a 77 and a tie for fourth at three-under.
The average score when play was halted was over 78.
“I want them out there playing since I had to play through this all day”, Snedeker said with a smile, according to Golf Channel.
As it turned out the wait was worth it for Brandt Snedeker.
The three-time tour victor is chasing a return to the tour full time after losing his status last season. “But if the weather was better I would have been worse, so I was glad for the bad weather”.
Snedeker was the only player to finish at par or better in the raging wind and rain at Torrey Pines.
“The first six holes were the hardest I’ve ever played in”, said Chad Campbell, who grew up in West Texas and made no apologies for his 79 while playing alongside Snedeker.
Walker finished with +5 for the fourth round to finish tied for fourth. Tournament officials announced Sunday evening that no spectators would be allowed on the course Monday. He is at one-over-par through 10 holes and seven-under-par for the tournament.
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“This has probably been the most nerve wracking four hours I’ve had on Tour, just because of the lack of control I had over everything that’s going to happen today”.
