Snedeker feeling down after promising start, but lets nary a tear fall

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This article was published 15/04/2013 (4867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — There were no tears this time for Brandt Snedeker, who cried when he blew his shot at winning the Masters in 2008. But the lost opportunity Sunday still hurt.

Snedeker, who shared the lead going into the final round, did not perform well in the rainy conditions at Augusta National Golf Club. He fired a 3-over-par 75 to drop into a tie for sixth at 284, five strokes out of the playoff won by Adam Scott over Angel Cabrera.

“Just frustrated and disappointed,” the 32-year-old Nashville native said. “I played pretty well and putted horrible and didn’t make the adjustments you’ve got to make. The greens got really slow on the back nine… and I did not make the adjustments you have to make.”

Snedeker, who had a bogey-free streak of 27 holes going into the round, fell out of the lead for good with bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes. He birdied the par-5 eighth to get to within two, but hurt himself with four back-nine bogeys.

After Saturday’s round, Snedeker declared, “I’m not here to finish top-five; I’m here to win.” But he admitted Sunday he was “not as crushed as I was in 2008 (when he finished tied for third) because I know I’m going to be there again.

“I’m very disappointed that I didn’t win, but I realize that I’m not that far off from winning this thing. I’m going to do it soon.”

The amazing Cabrera

COMING into the Masters, Angel Cabrera had just two victories in 187 starts on the PGA Tour. But if you’re going to win two, what is better than the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont and the 2009 Masters?

Cabrera, 43, began the week as the 269th-ranked player in the world. He was trying to become the second-oldest player to win the Masters, and the 17th to win the green jacket at least twice.

Teen’s historic week

AT only 14 years old the youngest player ever to compete in the Masters, Guan Tianlang has achieved something that Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Jay Sigel did before him.

Guan, of China, won low-amateur honours after closing out his historic first appearance at Augusta National with a 75 and a final score of 300. The only amateur to make the 36-hole cut, he placed 58th.

“It’s not easy to play here, to make the cut and be low amateur,” said Guan, who won a silver cup for the accomplishment. “I think I did a pretty good job this week and I can’t believe it’s over.”

Guan, who weighs 125 pounds, handled the 7,445-yard length of Augusta National quite well. While he carded just five birdies for the week, he did not make a score worse than bogey in 72 holes. He also shook off a one-stroke penalty for slow play on Friday.

“The whole week is great for me,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. I’m having fun and hopefully I play some good golf.”

Sigel, of Berwyn, was low amateur in the Masters three times and Crenshaw took the same honour twice. Nicklaus, Mickelson and Woods won the silver cup once each.

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Still Phil’s favourite contest

PHIL MICKELSON, a three-time Masters champion, carded 15 birdies for the week but managed just one round under par, wrapping up his week with a 73 and a total of 297.

“I just had an off year,” Mickelson said. “I played poorly. This was disappointing for me, in that this is my favourite place in the world to play. This is my favourite tournament, one that I look forward to the day after it ends. And to perform like this is disappointing.”

— Philadelphia Inquirer