Brandt Snedeker – Player Bio

Brandt Snedeker was arguably Davis Love III’s most debated pick for the 2012 Ryder Cup, but his current hot streak cannot be ignored by Team Europe.

The 31-year-old’s game picked up in 2011 with two consecutive top-10 finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He returned to the tour after the birth of his child with a fourth place finish at the Transitions Championship and then at the years first major, The Masters, he finished in a tie for 15th.

The following week Snedeker had a chance to win his second PGA Tour title at the Valero Texas Open but made a number of mistakes on the back nine on Sunday which cost him victory, eventually finishing alone in fourth. He did however earn his second PGA Tour title the week after at The Heritage beating Luke Donald in a sudden-death playoff at the third extra hole. Snedeker shot a 64 seven-under-par round to recover from six shots back on the Sunday to tie Donald after the Englishman had to up and down on the last to make the playoff. The win took Snedeker to 38th in the world rankings.

In November 2011, Snedeker underwent elective surgery on his right hip in order to fix a degenerative issue that sidelined him for six to eight weeks at the end of year; but he came back stronger in 2012, winning his third PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He started the day seven shots behind the leader Kyle Stanley, but after firing a final round 67 he was the leader in the clubhouse while the final group completed its rounds. Stanley had a three stroke lead coming the final hole, but pitched his third shot into the water resulting in a triple bogey 8 to take the tournament to a playoff. After both players made birdie on the first extra hole, Snedeker prevailed with an up-and-down for par on the second hole after Stanley missed his par putt. It moved Snedeker into the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.

During a practice round for the 2012 Open Championship, Snedeker holed a driver from the tee on the 336 yard par 4 16th. His good form continued into the tournament as he scored 66 and 64 in the first two rounds to equal the lowest 36 hole score. But closing rounds of 73 and 74 meant he had to settle for third place with Tiger Woods, four shots behind Ernie Els.

The match at Medinah will be Snedeker’s first Ryder Cup, but the long set-up will suit him down to a tee.