FedEx hero Snedeker in mood for Ryder Cup glory
Golf,
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Brandt Snedeker admits that his victory in the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup is the perfect tonic ahead of the Ryder Cup.
The 31-year-old, who will face the European side later this week as one of Davis Love's wild card picks, claimed the final event of the FedEx Cup play-offs and, due to the fact that the points totals had been reset prior to the tournament, scooped the $10m ahead of Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman had already bagged two of the four play-off events but Snedeker knew that a win would see him land the bonus as he was in fifth place at the start of the East Lake showdown.
And his final-round 68 saw the Nashville resident claim the title by three shots on 10-under par, with England's Justin Rose finishing second.
Luke Donald rallied on Sunday to card a 67 and he shared third place with Ryan Moore on -6, while Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson tied for fifth on five-under par.
Jim Furyk's second consecutive 72 saw him slip back to -3 on the final day while Tiger Woods and Hunter Mahan finished in a tie for eighth on -2.
McIlroy could not get anything going during his final 18 holes and signed for a 74 and a share of 10th place on -1 alongside Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Bo Van Pelt and Robert Garrigus.
But it was Snedeker who took all the plaudits and he admitted that victory in a field containing the best players in the world can only auger well for the upcoming prestigious event.
"I don't know where it came from but I had complete confidence today," he said. "I know now that I have the ability to do that and will try to take it forward to Medinah."
McIlroy refused to be too downbeat, despite the fact that he had come so close to landing the $10m jackpot and paid tribute to the man that he could well face next week.
"I have to stay positive. It's been a great year and I've had three wins starting at the PGA Championship," he said.
"I knew if I won this week I won the whole thing, but Brandt knew the same thing and he did what he needed to do. He played fantastic out there."
