ATLANTA: The biggest surprise for American Brandt Snedeker on his way to victory in both the season-ending Tour Championship and the FedExCup play-off race was his ability to flourish under intense pressure.
Not only was he vying with 29 of the game’s leading players for a chance to win a staggering play-off bonus of $10m at East Lake Golf Club but he had to do so amid several off-course distractions.
His wife Mandy is expecting their second child in a month and his father Larry was watching him at a tournament this week for only the second time since having a liver transplant last year.
On top of that, Snedeker had spent 30 minutes earlier in the day visiting his swing coach’s son who is in a “responsive coma” in an Atlanta hospital after being severely injured in a car accident.
“I’m a lot better under pressure than I gave myself credit for,” Snedeker told reporters when asked what he had learned most about himself during his triumphant week at East Lake. “I was so calm the last nine holes, I couldn’t believe it. I learned that over the last four weeks. I’ve had a lot of pressure the last four weeks and a bunch of different stuff going on in my life. To be able to focus and do what I did was pretty impressive.”
Remarkably, the potential of a massive play-off payday to the tune of $10m was never a distraction for Snedeker who ensured his sole motivation was to win a golf tournament.
“I was so worried about trying to beat Justin (Rose) to win the Tour Championship today,” said the fast-talking American, who began the final round tied for the lead with Rose and ended it three strokes in front. I was not thinking about the $10m at all until the last hole, and I hit an awful shot there so that shows you what that does for you. It (the money) really hasn’t crossed my mind yet to be honest with you, but it’s unbelievable.” REUTERS
