Wire-to-wire for Snedeker but big names miss out on Play-offs
What happened at the Wyndham Championship?
Brandt Snedeker held off a Sunday charge from Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan to win for the ninth time on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship.
The 37-year-old has struggled with injury over the past year, but he’s shown glimpses in recent months that he has been returning to form and it all came to a head this week at Sedgefield Country Club.
On Thursday, the American shot a stunning 59 – with an opening bogey – to enter the history books on the PGA Tour.
His lead gradually diminished over Friday and Saturday, but a final round 65 got the job done by a comfortable three shots in the end.
Snedeker’s only slip up came at the par-4 13th, where an uncharacteristic three-putt knocked the wind out of his sails – particularly as Pan had tied for the lead.
Pan – with his wife on the bag – came to the 18th tee level with Snedeker but he sliced his drive wildly out of bounds on the way to a double-bogey finish.
And so Snedeker – who won this championship before it came to Sedgefield Country Club in 2007 – had a comfortable walk up to the final green where he would finish things off in style; a right-to-left breaking 20-footer down the hill for a closing birdie.
Putter drop. ?
Mic drop. ?What a way to win for @BrandtSnedeker.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/7CA8yDX0ZV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Talking point
The Wyndham Championship is often referred to as a tournament within a tournament given that it’s the final regular event of the season.
The top 125 players in the FedEx Cup rankings advance to the Play-offs.
And Sergio Garcia’s disappointing summer came to an abrupt end.
The Spaniard has missed seven cuts this season, starting with The Masters, and it cost him dearly here.
His level-par round was not enough as he finished 128th in the FedEx standings, missing out by two spots for the first time in his career.
It also plunges his Ryder Cup chances into further doubt.
Sam Saunders snuck into the top 125 to make the playoffs for the first time in the career, while Nick Taylor fired a closing 63 to secure his spot for The Northern Trust next week.
The final spot went to Ireland’s Seamus Power who would’ve been waiting anxiously having missed the cut this week.
Notables who will the miss the Play-offs include Jim Furyk, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell, Steve Stricker and Bill Haas.
Best quote
"Means the world to me."
An emotional victory. ?@BrandtSnedeker knows how special this win at @WyndhamChamp is.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/PRI7svc8hC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Best moments
A win for Dad. ❤#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/kHUJM1WXZT
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Golf is hard.
Co-leader C.T. Pan goes out of bounds with his tee shot on the 72nd hole. pic.twitter.com/tw06sQsrCQ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Back on top for @BrandtSnedeker.
An impressive up-and-down.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/Q0NRVYm5wj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
20-under. ?@BrandtSnedeker holds the solo lead @WyndhamChamp.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/9KAGd1X2bw
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
What a round from @NTaylorGolf59!
He posts 63 at the @WyndhamChamp.
He's now projected to make the #FedExCup Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ihUofOzxJk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Webb. Wedge. Wow.
?? #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/tYm4NqUB2r
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Back-to-back big putts.
Back-to-back fist pumps.@NTaylorGolf59 is battling.#FedExCup pic.twitter.com/NUJ81lYJ7t— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
?@TheSergioGarcia gets his first birdie of the day.
He has now moved up to 122nd in the projected #FedExCup standings.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/5K8U226VEx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
The 2011 @WyndhamChamp is making a move.
An eagle gets @WebbSimpson1 to -12.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/UBi1WDcpzi
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
?Eagle hole-out for @DAPoints?
He trails @BrandtSnedeker by 1 shot.#LiveUnderPar ? pic.twitter.com/JhC62YDRKm
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2018
Forget his form – Sergio is a must for the Ryder Cup
Stenson: My Ryder Cup battle
Final Wyndham Championship leaderboard
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
