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By Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent

If you're going to make a name for yourself on the PGA TOUR there is a sure-fire way to take care of that order of business: Excel early.

Brandt Snedeker has made the cut 14 times in 19 tries in his rookie seaon on TOUR. (WireImage)

Brandt Snedeker understands. He did just that, earning instant recognition in the sixth round he played on the United States' mainland as an official member of the PGA TOUR. See, people will make it a point to look you up when you produce a breathtaking start like Snedeker did in the first round of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.

All Snedeker did for an opener was go birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie. Somehow a par managed to find its way onto his scorecard before he reeled off two more birdies.

It produced a spectator stampede to Snedeker's threesome. Once there, they commenced to whoopin' and hollerin' for a rookie whose name they likely had trouble pronounin'.

Snedeker recently smiled at the thought of his start and the buzz it caused.

"Going into that day I'm sure the people didn't have a clue who I was,'' he said. "By the end of the day I had people cheering my name and telling me to shoot 59 and stuff like that. It was a great way to break onto the PGA TOUR.''

Naturally Snedeker cooled off, but he still shot an 11-under 61. He managed to hold onto the lead for three rounds, before Tiger Woods asserted his winning will on the event. Nevertheless, Snedeker hung up a solo third to get his rookie season off and running.

"It was a surreal week,'' said Snedeker, the 2003 United States Public Links champion and SEC Player of the year who earned his degree from Vanderbilt in communications. "The press conferences were eye-openers. I learned how my body reacted under pressure. Tiger handled it beautifully. I didn't. I made some rookie mistakes. But I considered third a huge success.''

There have been some hiccups since, including five missed cuts and three indifferent final-round 74s that knocked a zero or two off potentially fat paychecks. But all in all who would argue with the way the Nashville native has performed through 19 events?

Matter of fact, it's easy to get the idea that John Baresfoot Tipton, the benevolent fictional Daddy Warbucks from the old television show "The Millionaire,'' would take a real fancy to the Nationwide Tour's Class of 2006. That's because it is mid-June and already four of the 22 graduates have eclipsed seven figures in official earnings

Snedeker, 26, joined Verizon Heritage champion Boo Weekley, Ken Duke and Jeff Quinney in that elite class with a tie for fifth Stanford St. Jude Classic two weeks ago and tacked on a tie for 23rd in the United States Open, pushing his earnings to $1,146,486. The solid start also validated his 2006 season on the Nationwide Tour when he won twice.

"The Buick really set up my season,'' he said. "It was such a good start I've been able to free-wheel it. That is such a big bonus out here.''

Another bonus: Snedeker has managed to stay healthy. Before you scoff, examine Snedeker's injury-prone history.

In 2005, a cracked rib derailed a golden opportunity to graduate from the Nationwide Tour. He missed seven crucial weeks beginning in mid July, came back pressing to make up for lost time and limped to the finish line, eventually finishing 45th on the money list.

A broken clavicle sidelined him, but couldn't stop him in 2006.

Last season Snedeker As luck would have it, history repeated in early August after Snedeker missed the cut by a shot in the Cox Classic. He tripped over a root and fell awkwardly while running to his car to retrieve a pair of shoes. He rolled on his right shoulder.

"I attribute the injury to klutziness,'' said Snedeker, who returned to the Tour in time to win Permian Basic Charity Golf Classic and lock up his PGA TOUR card in 2007. "I can trip over my own two feet. But the six weeks I was off last year showed me how much I missed playing golf and how much I want to do it for a living. I didn't like sitting in my condo and watching everybody on TV make money.''

Obviously making the cash hasn't been a problem this season, even at golf's highest level. Snedeker just keeps gaining valuable experience and living his dream, one that he said has "exceeded all expectations.''

"I'm out here playing against my heroes,'' he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "These are players I watched on television, players I tried to emulate. This is just awesome.''