Times wires
Sunday, February 10, 2013
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Brandt Snedeker didn't have to take a back seat to anyone at Pebble Beach.
A runnerup to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson each of the last two weeks, Snedeker finished off a record performance Sunday with 7-under 65 for a two-shot victory over Chris Kirk in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Snedeker holed a 10-foot birdie on the 17th hole and then tapped in for par to finish at 19-under 267. That broke the tournament record held by Mickelson (2007) and Mark O'Meara (1997), who each had 20-under 268 when Poppy Hills was in the rotation.
The hottest player in golf, Snedeker finally has a trophy to show for it.
"Feels great to finish one," he said. "The last two weeks, playing great but running into two Hall of Famers, really motivated me to go out and prove that I can handle the lead."
In five starts this year, he had a win, two second-place finishes and a third. He never had much of a chance against Woods at Torrey Pines or Mickelson at the Phoenix Open, who each had big leads going into the final round.
Snedeker was tied with James Hahn, a 31-year-old rookie, and seized control with an eagle and three birdies on the opening seven holes. Snedeker responded to his only bogey, at No. 9, with birdie putts on the next two holes.
Snedeker goes to No. 4 in the world, the highest ranking of his career and second to Woods among Americans.
"Kind of crazy to think what's happened," he said.
Hahn shot 2-under 70 and tied for third with Jimmy Walker (66) and Kevin Stadler (65).
The only disappointment for Snedeker was having to settle for par on the final hole and watching his amateur, Toby Wilt, graze the edge of the cup with his final putt. That means he had to share first in the pro-am with Michael Letzig and John Erickson.
Mickelson, the defending champion, hit two more balls in the ocean on the 18th hole. He closed with 72 and tied for 60th.
Tampa resident Ryuji Imada shot a final-round 71 to finish at 4-under 282, tied for 40th.
Champions: Rocco Mediate birdied the 18th hole and finished with a 1-under 71 to win the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton. He finished at 17-under 199 and became the 16th player to have a winning debut on the Champions Tour. Mediate's 4-foot birdie came after Tom Pernice Jr. (70) missed a 5-footer at No. 18 that could have forced a playoff. "I'm ecstatic," Mediate said. "This means as much to me as anything I've done."
