Confident Snedeker leads by shot at Phoenix Open

February 27, 2010

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Brandt Snedeker is back to playing like the risingyoung PGA Tour star he was supposed to be.

The 29-year-old Tennessean rolled in his sixth birdie of the day on No. 17and finished at 14-under 199 for a one-shot lead over Scott Piercy in thePhoenix Open.

Snedeker shot a 66, while Piercy had a pair of eagles en route to a 65 inthe third round Saturday amid a loud, rowdy crowd estimated at just over121,000. Many were on hand for the party as much, or more than, for thetournament.

Greg Greg Chalmers, of Australia, h… AP – Feb 27, 6:49 pm EST Matt Every watches his putt fo… AP – Feb 27, 6:49 pm EST Ian Poulter, of England, raise… AP – Feb 27, 6:47 pm EST Robert Allenby, of Australia, … AP – Feb 27, 6:36 pm EST Rickie Fowler watches his putt… AP – Feb 27, 6:24 pm EST Scott Piercy waves to the gall… AP – Feb 27, 6:20 pm EST Brandt Snedeker watches his pu… AP – Feb 27, 6:12 pm EST Brandt Snedeker watches his ap… AP – Feb 27, 6:07 pm EST Brandt Snedeker acknowledges t… AP – Feb 27, 6:01 pm EST Scott Piercy reacts as his put… AP – Feb 27, 5:54 pm EST Rickie Fowler tees off on the … AP – Feb 27, 5:43 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Colombia, … AP – Feb 27, 4:27 pm EST Brandt Snedeker watches his pu… AP – Feb 27, 4:17 pm EST Brandt Snedeker eyes his putt … AP – Feb 27, 4:16 pm EST Ryan Moore drops his club afte… AP – Feb 27, 4:03 pm EST Tom Lehman kisses his golf bal… AP – Feb 27, 3:56 pm EST Tom Lehman chips onto the eigh… AP – Feb 27, 3:52 pm EST Anthony Kim watches the flight… AP – Feb 27, 3:44 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Colombia, … AP – Feb 27, 3:44 pm EST Mark Wilson watches as his chi… AP – Feb 27, 3:43 pm EST Matt Every hits out of a bunke… AP – Feb 27, 3:43 pm EST Rickie Fowler watches as his p… AP – Feb 26, 8:19 pm EST Rickie Fowler tees off on the … AP – Feb 26, 8:15 pm EST Mark Wilson watches his putt f… AP – Feb 26, 7:43 pm EST Mark Wilson tips his visor to … AP – Feb 26, 7:37 pm EST First-round leader Camilo Vill… AP – Feb 26, 7:19 pm EST Ian Poulter, of England, grins… AP – Feb 26, 6:36 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Colombia, … AP – Feb 26, 6:24 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Colombia, … AP – Feb 26, 6:24 pm EST Anthony Kim hits his second sh… AP – Feb 26, 6:19 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Columbia, … AP – Feb 26, 6:19 pm EST Anthony Kim reacts to missing … AP – Feb 26, 6:04 pm EST Tom Lehman hits from the secon… AP – Feb 26, 5:52 pm EST Cameron Beckman pumps his fist… AP – Feb 26, 4:52 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Columbia, … AP – Feb 26, 4:50 pm EST Geoff Ogilvy, of Australia, te… AP – Feb 26, 4:43 pm EST Geoff Ogilvy, of Australia, wa… AP – Feb 26, 4:38 pm EST Camilo Villegas, of Colombia, … AP – Feb 26, 4:33 pm EST First-round leader Camilo Vill… AP – Feb 26, 4:29 pm EST Defending champion Kenny Perry… AP – Feb 26, 4:23 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 39; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.c5889c14b8ce44958dfe78600ce9ec06.phoenix_open_golf_azpc118.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=319&hc=354&q=70&sig=xnETcq0CjgdlnfgiXXilUg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.4dfe96a4eabb4aea97f32c0e2306e98f.phoenix_open_golf_azpc121.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=325&hc=361&q=70&sig=eEZOaNzfFcA9F6DFaSHh5Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.a153a2ca56ca4905ae5aad9405df23cc.phoenix_open_golf_azpc119.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=321&hc=357&q=70&sig=nOGer3u7hFQzUWHcM0vv0g--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.58c9d3af45ae4f0ea7380be543874bb2.phoenix_open_golf_azpc117.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=305&hc=339&q=70&sig=twBTFeCqMlhSNR1oL5lw1A--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.ec8e6a88010b43a59d62e57a2af2ffc2.phoenix_open_golf_azpc116.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=58&yc=1&wc=295&hc=328&q=70&sig=OdFZXW1Vi_hmFUWjYOXH4A--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.b162622402de4386bd4b2e83483a9595.phoenix_open_golf_azpc115.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=318&hc=353&q=70&sig=WWsTJwJtBu61Wl5xlNBMeg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.e5afbb8c932b4f3cbdb5b89fac6cf78e.phoenix_open_golf_azpc114.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=66&yc=1&wc=279&hc=310&q=70&sig=BUacP4dykew9VIyZPfPRKA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.fc78087e0d764a49bf7c9a00446310b6.phoenix_open_golf_azpc113.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=329&hc=366&q=70&sig=NFmn5fyylt4JTcwIz578TQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.9ba35aec234a4c82ba7f446dde0b6029.phoenix_open_golf_azpc112.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=317&hc=352&q=70&sig=4h0IGrmHECwJRbMawJmEIg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.0721a0bad54d4807a2290e7b74c07eac.phoenix_open_golf_azpc111.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=316&hc=351&q=70&sig=oXhXSJA0pfBvba6_UXdeUg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.d459fb17d22d49d08306c677b681aad1.phoenix_open_golf_azpc110.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=323&hc=359&q=70&sig=Mcm1X.09cAt2uFv7SJrzwQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.3e9ec5b222e0480582a5da054f0f23de.phoenix_open_golf_azpc109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=310&hc=344&q=70&sig=AWTDsC71L1Us5kiWDWUWjA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.1c6c7cabd4b74afc943c9c076a417aea.phoenix_open_golf_azpc108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=317&hc=352&q=70&sig=XWtG31mJFDra3WFeEreQww--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.3a306da466b1411a9bf69a235fa7fa9b.phoenix_open_golf_azpc107.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=57&yc=1&wc=296&hc=329&q=70&sig=n914QLSRnNfXW.hM8AkYaQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.d61e3b438f5d4b6997060fd2a60f57c1.phoenix_open_golf_azpc106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=317&hc=352&q=70&sig=k_EsA.E5PpWEhz1Kzr9E.g--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.45f8ba1fdd0d4529ad9a2486dc339447.phoenix_open_golf_azpc105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=329&hc=366&q=70&sig=aZQNrCbM2KfpdrTA60vflw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.bd250674e41b43fa8879df2808a8fe89.phoenix_open_golf_azpc103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=321&hc=357&q=70&sig=wy9Qo9xoBXwF4iWstjlU9w--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.bd79f0feacc340ec909a82616035d028.phoenix_open_golf_azpc104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=309&hc=343&q=70&sig=.MARbWY7jddDYvwRUYNZpw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.1b6f25fac8e44c2897a3c3c131b8e803.phoenix_open_golf_azpc102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=290&hc=322&q=70&sig=pgis1OiQupVvUgl4L1s0IA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.3d25d0cdac1d4ef9aef139225b4a8075.phoenix_open_golf_azpc101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=62&yc=1&wc=286&hc=318&q=70&sig=juLbDx2LfNihrv30AgfoVQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.68a87969a83a45edb813a9bbada30dbe.phoenix_open_golf_azpc123.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=290&hc=322&q=70&sig=aWXV28dq8enTNnttl7dQmA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.5f15f7bfbc0c4d07a8f11fcc3c5a11fc.phoenix_open_golf_azpc122.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=57&yc=1&wc=297&hc=330&q=70&sig=1CZ7K2fCZwpMcoFBt1DG4Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.9856bb5e8a6f4640bfc1d91d0c0432b9.phoenix_open_golf_azpc120.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=297&hc=330&q=70&sig=v1nhTyMrCLldkOyFd_Q3AA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.30660fd241fc4797b0e6662d3164744a.phoenix_open_golf_azpc121.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=321&hc=357&q=70&sig=23g6R_uWcNnj5RfTRnx6vg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100227/capt.f09cc9dff47c4c22b0eb03a57e41d92f.aptopix_phoenix_open_golf_azpc109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=69&yc=1&wc=273&hc=303&q=70&sig=VqjVO0rjo68o1gZAH867TA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.d69abc6ac9ab465197907a63a8f4a75f.phoenix_open_golf_azpc119.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=325&hc=361&q=70&sig=MIhT17.BO9hwOVEVGxN9YQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.e959c74d43204cb699c9c1e5acae54db.phoenix_open_golf_azpc118.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=302&hc=336&q=70&sig=vOplbRtdinVKLZQO3ahsZA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.556747e21733437aa0a3d7c5bee53c09.phoenix_open_golf_azpc113.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=74&yc=1&wc=264&hc=293&q=70&sig=f4g8lRwunayXiYLWP8gTxA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.5fb3083383cf4ca4bfb396be3757d03c.phoenix_open_golf_azpc117.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=317&hc=352&q=70&sig=2gQwhTPgCAWUXEgX9MtzrA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.34d3c08f149748d2919f37d214cac09b.phoenix_open_golf_azpc118.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=302&hc=336&q=70&sig=L1MBn8K34hKvA868Sgolyw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.2c8fc05b3a7e493e98f07f633e2f7d42.phoenix_open_golf_azpc116.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=46&yc=1&wc=320&hc=355&q=70&sig=USVukHJXjo0B1G5_37lifA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.434f117db59d4fdf99f5e9ffc63e8037.phoenix_open_golf_azpc115.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=59&yc=1&wc=293&hc=326&q=70&sig=5SaZy6jwDCESX0JkG405ZA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.58c322eb27984656b03ddf977e984ac3.phoenix_open_golf_azpc114.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=318&hc=353&q=70&sig=O7uXJKj4M0Y7z_kZXw4Q2Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.a55284ce5a364028996c3f02a5b92611.phoenix_open_golf_azpc113.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=74&yc=1&wc=264&hc=293&q=70&sig=ZsqiU3zReD7lEJlIvHTiZg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.20a29094168f42d597ca8f35577f45f2.phoenix_open_golf_azpc112.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=325&hc=361&q=70&sig=LQK6k78XV1ouP_FNQrOfBA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.0d8d1f4a2cc2442abfb2151a59280c9c.phoenix_open_golf_azpc111.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=327&hc=363&q=70&sig=.ZVrI6NLq3kp9eICJ45Mcw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.619014ffb32d4278a204bf7cca2d0e43.phoenix_open_golf_azpc110.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=329&hc=366&q=70&sig=4Lw.lX_vXbQNBW_kyk8WqQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.6e7bbafa93004ae5b79645a10b12f4d1.phoenix_open_golf_azpc109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=69&yc=1&wc=273&hc=303&q=70&sig=69IkUbFaS8UYMUv0.Xfsrw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.160e99ec3a7e44889d2b7bec0cf67948.phoenix_open_golf_azpc108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=63&yc=1&wc=285&hc=317&q=70&sig=N8lnquSYXUfLpm02GCV6Dg--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 40 Golf Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();

Rickie Fowler (69) and Matt Every (68) were two back at 12 under. CamiloVillegas, who shared the lead with Mark Wilson after two rounds, birdied thelast two holes to finish even for the day and minus-11 for the tournament.

Wilson, Mark Calcavecchia and Lee Janzen were among nine at 10-under 203.

The 49-year-old Calcavecchia has won the Phoenix Open three times, in 1989,1992 and 2001. The last of his 13 PGA tour victories came in 2007.

The sky was overcast with a threat of rain at TPC Scottsdale, and the windkicked up late in the day. Perhaps that’s why the crowd was more than 40,000 shyof the estimated 164,000 who attended on Saturday a year ago. The record is170,000 in 2008.

But the scene was as wild as usual at the notorious 16th hole, wherebleachers surround the par 3 and fans have special chants for virtually everygolfer. The good shots draw lusty cheers, the bad ones loud boos.

“It was crazy,” Snedeker said. “You’ve got to take it with a grain ofsalt and realize golf needs that. We need people out here having fun, beingexcited about being at a golf tournament. If you can’t take it for one hole,good God, get over yourself and have some fun.”

The same could be said of Snedeker’s young career.

He was the 2007 PGA Tour rookie of the year, but his victory at the WyndhamChampionship that season remains his lone win.

He struggled early last year, missing the cut 12 of 26 times and wassidelined eight weeks by a rib injury.

“You just listen to your hype,” Snedeker said. “You hear people talkingabout how good you are and how much you could be the next big thing, you shouldbe winning each week. And the minute you think that you should be winning thegolf tournament each week, you’re completely out of bounds.”

The turnaround, he said, came last July at the AT&T National, where he tiedfor fifth.

“Literally like a flipped switch,” Snedeker said, “and I said, `I’m sickand tired of this.’ I don’t care if I have to quit playing golf, I’m not goingto keep playing the way I’ve been playing. And ever since then I’ve been playinggood.”

He tied for second Jan. 31 at Torrey Pines, one shot behind winner BenCrane.

Snedeker’s only bogey Saturday, on the par-4 14th, was the most criticalhole of the round, he said.

He pulled his second shot into the left bunker. He failed to clear thebunker with his third shot and, with a bad lie, knocked his fourth shot 32 feetpast the pin. Then he nailed the putt.

“That says a lot about where my head is right now,” Snedeker said. “…It completely changed the way I walked on the 15th tee, feeling excited,confident, everything still going good.”

Snedeker has led after three rounds only once before, at the 2007 BuickOpen.

Piercy, in search of his first victory on the tour, will be in the finalgroup at Phoenix for the second year in a row. He was a shot off the lead goinginto the last round a year ago and finished tied for sixth.

Piercy said he learned watching eventual winner Kenny Perry play that finalround.

“He made a ton of pars. He didn’t make any bogeys, or very few bogeys, andthen when he made a birdie, that birdie was so huge,” Piercy said.

He said it showed him “`rather than put on the gas pedal the whole time,maybe drive with a little bit of caution.”

Piercy had a two eagles, the second one a tap-in on the par-4, 390-yard 10thhole, when his tee shot came to rest 10 inches from the pin.

The scene around the 16th was madness, with the mostly young crowd packedelbow-to-elbow, beer in hand.

People lined up to get into the bleachers as if it was some trendyScottsdale night club.

When Snedeker teed off, fans nearest the tee shouted “gentleman, scholar,athlete,” the golfer’s high school motto.

When Piercy hit, they chanted the name of porn star Jenna Jameson, of allpeople.

Confident Snedeker leads by shot at Phoenix Open

Comments

Latest Headlines

Archives

Related Sites