Michaux: Attitude puts Snedeker on right course
You've got an extra hour to kill before your professional debut in the Masters Tournament. What do you do?
Practice more putting? Spend more time on the range? Play the Par-3 Course?
Brandt Snedeker chose none of the above. He simply sat on the veranda and watched all the girls go by.
"It was kind of fun sitting up there relaxing and watching the world go by," he said. "My favorite time in the world is sitting in airports and watching people. So I was doing that today. I figure what better place to do it than Augusta, Ga., in 78degree weather, watching people go by and seeing people who are not wearing sunscreen and who had too many beers."
For players who get too stressed on the eve of a major championship, Snedeker's laid-back approach might be worth considering. He did, after all, shoot a sterling 69 on Thursday.
The only blemish on an otherwise perfect day was a bogey on the 18th hole that left him one shot behind co-leaders Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman. Since no 18-hole leader since Ben Crenshaw in 1984 has gone on to win the tournament, it might have been a shrewd move by the Vanderbilt grad.
"Felt like I was playing great, and each hole I could not wait to get to the next one," he said.
In case you weren't watching last year's Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., (and judging from the TV ratings, nobody was) you might not be too familiar with Snedeker. He's used to people not even knowing how to pronounce his name.
"I've heard it butchered so many times that it's no big deal," he once said. "I've gotten Snot-licker before, so I don't think it could get any worse than that."
Rest assured, however, Snedeker is familiar with Augusta National Golf Club.
The 2004 amateur participant played so many practice rounds back then that he feared the membership got sick of seeing him. But his experience on the course led to making the cut as an amateur and proving to himself that he could handle a tournament that many rookies find intimidating.
That was something he could draw on Thursday.
"I remember in '04 I was nervous the first nine holes before I was able to get out of that funk," he said, "and today I was nervous on the first tee shot and I was good to go."
Snedeker is once again having the time of his life here. He's resisted the urge to sneak into the Crow's Nest to take a peek at his former lodgings only because "I didn't want to get booted out my next time around sneaking around where I shouldn't be."
But he's come a long way in four years.
"I feel like I'm a lot more mature," he said. "I'm a lot more grown up as a professional golfer. I feel like my game is a whole lot better. It's not even close to how much better it is now to what it was then.
"This time I came in with a different mind-set. Last time was to make the cut and enjoy it with my brother and have a great time and use it as a springboard to my pro career. This time, I came here with one intention only, and that's to win. It's amazing when you shut your mind to different things, how your body reacts and it's been a nice day to go out and be able to do that."
Snedeker's career breakthrough came well before his lone tour victory in Greensboro. In his third start as a tour rookie, Snedeker shot a career-low round of 61 on the North Course at Torrey Pines and pushed winner Tiger Woods to the limit in the Buick Invitational. It was a performance that catapulted him to rookie of the year.
"It just made me realize that I do belong out here with these guys and I can compete with them, and if I keep working hard and keep my head down and not pay attention to what's going on around me and worry about my own stuff, I'll be okay," he said.
And Snedeker believes he can become the first former amateur participant since Woods to win his Masters pro debut.
"I definitely have never lacked for confidence in myself," he said. "I don't like telling people about it, but you know, I think you'll ask any professional golfer and we all think we can hit every golf shot in the world and we all think on any given day we are the best in the world. Granted with Tiger Woods now, everybody kind of knows we are not the best golfer in the world anymore."
With the right attitude and results over the next three days, Snedeker could take the short-cut to the Crow's Nest through the Champions Locker Room.
Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.
