Snedeker 'felt great' before his second-round 60

HAMILTON, Ontario – There are not many people in golf, let alone on the PGA TOUR, who could rely on past experience when they get close to shooting a 59, golf’s magic number.

But Brandt Snedeker is one of those people.

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Snedeker, who won the RBC Canadian Open in 2013, shot a 10-under 60 on Friday at Hamilton Golf and Country Club and was flirting with 59, again, late in his round. The former FedExCup champion shot a 59 to open last year’s Wyndham Championship. He’d go on to win that week, his first TOUR win in two years.

“When I did it at Wyndham I wasn't feeling very good about my game at all; today I was feeling good,” said Snedeker of the differences between the two days. “I knew I could get something going early, make a putt early, I was rolling it really good on the putting green so I felt like I was there.

“You get one those days every once in a while, and so I did the best I could taking advantage of it. I tried to make sure I made every putt today.”

Snedeker made 136 feet of putts on Friday, his best of the season after making 112 feet of putts at the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Snedeker and Carl Pettersson, who won in 2010 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, are the only golfers to shoot 60 at the event.

Greg Norman also had a round of 10 under, a 62, at Glen Abbey Golf Club in in 1986.

Snedeker tied the best 36-hole score at the Canadian Open with 129 after he opened with a 1-under 69, before it was broken by co-leaders Scott Brown and Matt Kuchar, who both shot 128 through their first two rounds.

“I made a small adjustment in my setup this week and it kind of clicked and felt great on the range. I think I missed one fairway with my driver, and you do that around here you're going to set yourself up for success,” he said. “I just kept feeding on it, feeding on it, didn't really think about (the score) too much until… 17 is the first time kind of popped in my head. Like, ‘oh, if I finish birdie-birdie I can shoot 59 again.’”

As the afternoon wave was just getting started Friday, Snedeker was leading by two shots. He ended the day tied for third along with Canadian Nick Taylor, one shot behind Brown and Kuchar.

Snedeker was grouped with Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas – another past FedExCup champion – and combined the trio shot 19 under on Friday.

“It was fun to watch. It was exciting for sure. He made it look really easy,” said Koepka of Snedeker’s round.

“I felt like I didn't play very well playing with him,” echoed Thomas, with a laugh. “I mean, man that guy can putt. It was unbelievable.”

Snedeker said the golf course sets up well for him since it’s not a layout for bombers.

“You’ve got to put the ball in the fairway and give yourself plenty of opportunities. Sounds boring, but that's the way this golf course is meant to be played,” he said. “That's why I love it. I love old-school golf courses.”

Although Snedeker has had two top-10 finishes this year, including at THE PLAYERS Championship, he classified his season to this point as “mediocre,” admitting he’s had trouble stringing four good rounds together.

He said he usually plays well at events he’s won before – indeed, he’s won twice at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Farmers Insurance Open, and the Wyndham Championship – and even though he’s playing the Canadian Open this week at a different course than when he won in 2013, he’s still feeling good heading into the weekend.

“I hold this tournament up a little bit more just because of what it means to me being a past champion,” said Snedeker. “I’ve only won RBC (Canadian Open) once, so would be find of a fitting way to top this one off.”