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Snedeker began the day one stroke back after a three-under 69 on Thursday, and his play in the second round picked up where the first left off. Through five holes he was one under for the day.
On number 6, the downhill par-3, Snedeker faced a monster-long birdie putt. The route to the hole was blocked by fringe. He took out his lob wedge and played a pitch shot off the green, landing it where he knew the grain would kill it, and watched the ball roll into the hole for an unlikely birdie. He took no divot but could see where the club had brushed the grass.
Watson clapped and smiled and said nothing. Snedeker's second-round 68 left him one shot out of the lead.
Round 3
Snedeker was paired with the
leader, Trevor Immelman, in the last group of the
day. This was the round in which they were both
supposed to make a mess of things — neither had
ever contended for a major before — and let the
big boys take the stage: Tiger, Phil, Vijay. When
Brandt made bogeys right through Amen Corner,
he looked to be playing his role. As an amateur, in
his first round, he had made three straight birdies on those very holes. Now, as a pro, he had played
them in six shots more. His caddie, Scott Vail, told
him he'd make three birdies coming in, and he did,
on 14, 15 and 18, to go along with two pars.
The hardest shot in that five-hole stretch was the third shot on the par-5 15th, a sand wedge from 85 yards.probably the one that looked like a standard-issue pitch to the millions of people watching on TV. Four yards too short can funnel the ball to the water. Four yards too long, the same. Snedeker nipped it just right — dead arms, no spin — and left himself with an eight-footer for birdie.
In that third round Anderson could sense that Snedeker was feeding off the gallery, which was joyful behind him. He realized for the first time how much the Masters means to Snedeker, how much he wants to be one of the best players in the game and how much he enjoys showing people what he can do with a golf ball.
His third-round 70 left him two shots behind the leader, still Immelman.
Round 4
Nobody prepares
you for the long wait
leading up to the most
important round of your
life.
On Saturday night, at the home Snedeker rented at West Lake, a sprawling development on the out skirts of Augusta, J.D. Jones worked the grill, just as he did every night.
Grilled bologna and prime rib and chicken wings, of which Brandt ate at least 12, maybe 15. No beer, but many diet Cokes. He went to bed but never to sleep and got up at 7 a.m., 7 1/2 hours before his tee time.
Haymes came over for a visit, "but after a while you run out of things to talk about," he says. "There's an elephant in the room that nobody wants to bring up, that you're in the last group on Sunday at the Masters."
Larry and Candy and Mandy were in and out, everybody putting on a brave face, everyone feeling the tension. Anderson was on the practice green. Wilt was on the 1st tee. Now driving, Brandt Snedeker.
The course was hard and fast, and the wind was strong and gusty and all over the place. Brandt found that he could not get comfortable over the ball. His new ball position didn't feel right and the ball crept forward in his stance and his shoulders were open and he was aiming right and hitting pull-hooks.
Snedeker gave Immelman a congratulatory soul shake on their way up 18 and a warm favorite-uncle smile to Immelman's red-haired son, Jacob, then came off the green, aching with disappointment.
