Snedeker battled anxious moments without hitting a shot

SAN DIEGO – Brandt Snedeker won the Farmers Insurance Open without hitting a shot Monday. He didn’t need to after a fantastic 69 in the previous day’s trying conditions.

Snedeker spent Monday morning nervously pacing around the library in his hotel while the final groups played Torrey Pines’ finishing holes in a stiff wind. Snedeker started the day one shot behind leader Jimmy Walker, who had to play eight holes.

The rain that hit Torrey Pines hard the previous day didn’t continue into Monday, but the high winds, which knocked down large trees throughout the course, were still present. The clubhouse proved to be the best place to be in those tough conditions, as Snedeker’s 6-under 282 held up for the victory.

“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,” he said. “I had no idea what to expect.”

Snedeker was giving post-round interviews Sunday when play was delayed for the final time. He finished his round about 15 minutes before the horn blew. That meant waiting nearly 24 hours without hitting a shot. Monday’s play didn’t begin until 10 a.m. as crews cleaned up the damage from the high winds.

Before he began warming up for a possible playoff, Snedeker said he “probably paced a hole in the carpet.” Snedeker was the winner after Choi’s long birdie try at the final hole of regulation failed to drop.

This was Snedeker’s eighth PGA TOUR victory, and first since the 2015 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He is now No. 2 in the FedExCup, 60 points behind leader Kevin Kisner, after finishing in the top three in his three consecutive starts.

Snedeker’s 69 ended up being the only under-par score of the final round, which played to a 77.9 average. It was the highest fourth-round scoring average in a non-major since 1983.

Snedeker made the cut this week without a shot to spare, but shot 5-under 139 on the weekend (70-69). He started the final round in 27th place, six shots behind leaders K.J. Choi and Scott Brown.

Five of Snedeker’s eight PGA TOUR wins have been in come-from-behind fashion. This was the fourth time that he’s made up a final-round deficit of five or more strokes. He won the 2012 Farmers Insurance Open after starting the final round seven strokes behind leader Kyle Stanley.

“It says that I don't give up, I keep grinding until the last putt goes in and I take pride in that,” Snedeker said. “And that's the only way I'm successful out here, because I never give up, I realize there's always a chance.”

Walker made four bogeys and four pars Monday. Choi, who started the day tied with Snedeker for second, made just one bogey, saving par several times with a strong short game.

There was one important difference, though. The wind had switched directions from Sunday, making many of the final holes play into the wind. K.J. Choi, who played alongside Walker, hit fairway wood or hybrid for three of his first five approach shots Monday. Walker hit fairway wood into No. 15. Snedeker hit wedge into the hole one day earlier.

“I feel bad for them,” Snedeker said. “They got the raw end of the stick this morning. But (that is) just the way golf goes and luckily enough, I played good enough yesterday to get the job done.”

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