Snedeker feels close to unlocking major key

Snedeker feels close to unlocking major key

Mark Lamport-Stokes August 7, 2013







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Brandt Snedeker of the U.S. reacts after he hits from the rough from to the twelfth green on his way …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - Winning breeds confidence and in-form Brandt Snedeker says he now knows what is needed for him to land a first major title at this week's PGA Championship after a few close calls in the past.

The fast-talking American clinched his second PGA Tourvictory of the season at the Canadian Open two weeks ago and believes he is close to replicating the sizzling form he produced at the start of the year.

Snedeker recorded four top-threes in his first five events, including a two-shot triumph at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February, before he was sidelined for five weeks because of a sore rib cage.

"I feel really good about my game coming into this week, I feel good about having a better idea of what it takes to win one of these (majors)," Snedeker told Reuters at Oak Hill Country Club while preparing for Thursday's opening round.

"I realize it's more of a marathon and not a sprint. I realize that you have to learn how to manage your mistakes, keep hanging in there and wait for good things to happen."

A six-times winner on the PGA Tour, Snedeker is delighted to be close to his best heading into the year's final major.

"I am starting to play good," said the 32-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee. "I feel like I am playing like I was at the beginning of the year. I feel like I am close to playing some great golf.

"I am a lot more relaxed now and I'm a lot more into the process and realizing that a lot more goes into winning majors than just hitting the golf ball good.

"You've got to do a lot. You have to think well, you have to hit the ball in the right spots, you've got to get up and down when you need to, that kind of stuff."


BEATING THE BEST

Snedeker has posted five top-10s in the majors, including ties for third at the 2008 Masters and the 2012 British Open, but it was his victory in last year's Tour Championship that proved to him he could beat the world's best when it counted.

"That was really good," Snedeker said of his three-shot triumph at the season-ending Tour Championship where he also earned FedExCup honors and the eye-popping $10 million bonus.

"Any time you beat one of the best fields in golf, take the lead into the last round with Tiger (Woods) and Rory (McIlroy) and everybody right there and being able to win, gives you a lot of confidence. You know you can do it."

Snedeker, who is known for being one of the best putters in the game, is especially pleased that he achieved both of his PGA Tour wins this year after holding at least a share of the lead going into the final round.

"I've just got to do that more often, give myself more chances," he smiled. "I know you're not going to win them all but the more chances I keep giving myself in these majors, the better chance I have of winning one."

Snedeker likes the look of Oak Hill's challenging East Course, which this week will be staging the PGA Championship for a third time.

"It's a great test from tee to green," he said. "You have to drive the ball in play. It tests every club in your bag, and there's 10 different ways to play every hole.

"You can hit driver on most of them if you want to or you can lay back with a three-iron and put the emphasis on your iron play. So it's just what you feel comfortable with.

"But, like any major, it's going to come down to putting. You've got to make those 10-footers, those eight-footers for pars because this golf course is really, really tough. Anywhere around par (in total) is going to win."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

Golf-Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

Golf-Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

August 7, 2013








By Steve Keating

ROCHESTER, New York, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Having already won golf's Father of the Year honours, Hunter Mahan will turn his focus to winning his first major this week as he returns to work at the PGA Championship following the birth of his first child.

Mahan, who walked away from a potential million dollar payday at the Canadian Open two weeks ago to return home to Dallas after his wife went into labour, has soaked up well-wishes from his fellow players and endless praise from golf fans all week for putting his family ahead of his job.

"I haven't met anyone who has said I made the wrong decision," said an in-form Mahan, who turned his back on a two-shot lead going into the third round of the Canadian Open to be with his wife.

"But it's been pretty much a consensus of people saying I did the right thing. Everyone knows someone who has given birth or had a child and I think everyone knows how special it is.

"I think people are just ready for a great story in sports, and it was a great time."

A storybook finish to this feel-good tale would see Mahan walking away from the year's final major holding the Wanamaker Trophy in one arm and his daughter Zoe in the other.

Mahan has been knocking on the major door recently and the 31-year-old American will be on the shortlist of contenders when action gets underway on Thursday at stately Oak Hill Country Club.

A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Mahan has six top-10 finishes at the majors, including two this year after playing in the final pairing going into the last day at both the U.S. and British Opens.

"It's been very encouraging to be in the final group in a major; I think it's a great accomplishment, because you're in the last group out there and you get to see what everybody else does," said Mahan.

"You can see why Tiger (Woods) and why those guys want to be in the last group. I feel like it's somewhat calming in a way, or at least that's what I felt, because you kind of know what everyone is doing and you get a sense of everything.


"You know you're playing well and so you can just go out there and play golf and enjoy the experience."

MAJOR TURNAROUND

Mahan, however, has been unable to turn good form at the majors into a victory.

In last month's British Open at Muirfield, Mahan struggled on the final day before finishing joint ninth, having shared fourth place at the U.S. Open five weeks earlier.

"I don't know what's held me back," shrugged Mahan. "It's hard to win tournaments out here. It's not easy. Phil (Mickelson) played unbelievable at the British Open and no one was going to beat him that day.

"I felt like at the U.S. Open, I wasn't that far off. I just had one or two shots that hurt me. I've just got to keep working, keep getting better at my all-around game, and I think I'll get there."

Mahan's only competition for the unofficial crown of PGA Tour's Father of Year might have been Mickelson, who made a coast-to-coast trip on the eve of the U.S. Open at Merion to attend his daughter's graduation in California.

This week, the on-course competition will be much tougher at Oak Hill where Mahan estimates that as many as 30 golfers have a shot at the PGA title.

"The depth and quality of the field now is pretty remarkable, especially at majors," he said. "I know it seemed like when I first joined the Tour there was maybe a handful of guys who could win and had a legitimate chance and by Sunday they were all up there.

"Now, there might be 20 guys with a legitimate chance when they step on the tee, maybe 25, 30, when they step on the tee on Thursday with a chance to win and they have the games and potential to do that.

"This is a world-class field and this is a world-class golf course, so you're going to have to play your best to win this week." (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

Steve Keating August 7, 2013





.View gallery
Hunter Mahan of the U.S. tees off on the first hole during a practice round for the 2013 PGA Championship …By Steve Keating
ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - Having already won golf's Father of the Year honors, Hunter Mahan will turn his focus to winning his first major this week as he returns to work at the PGA Championship following the birth of his first child.
Mahan, who walked away from a potential million dollar payday at the Canadian Open two weeks ago to return home to Dallas after his wife went into labor, has soaked up well-wishes from his fellow players and endless praise from golf fans all week for putting his family ahead of his job.
"I haven't met anyone who has said I made the wrong decision," said an in-form Mahan, who turned his back on a two-shot lead going into the third round of the Canadian Open to be with his wife.
"But it's been pretty much a consensus of people saying I did the right thing. Everyone knows someone who has given birth or had a child and I think everyone knows how special it is.
"I think people are just ready for a great story in sports, and it was a great time."
A storybook finish to this feel-good tale would see Mahan walking away from the year's final major holding the Wanamaker Trophy in one arm and his daughter Zoe in the other.
Mahan has been knocking on the major door recently and the 31-year-old American will be on the shortlist of contenders when action gets underway on Thursday at stately Oak Hill Country Club.
A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Mahan has six top-10 finishes at the majors, including two this year after playing in the final pairing going into the last day at both the U.S. and British Opens.
"It's been very encouraging to be in the final group in a major; I think it's a great accomplishment, because you're in the last group out there and you get to see what everybody else does," said Mahan.
"You can see why Tiger (Woods) and why those guys want to be in the last group. I feel like it's somewhat calming in a way, or at least that's what I felt, because you kind of know what everyone is doing and you get a sense of everything.

"You know you're playing well and so you can just go out there and play golf and enjoy the experience."
MAJOR TURNAROUND
Mahan, however, has been unable to turn good form at the majors into a victory.
In last month's British Open at Muirfield, Mahan struggled on the final day before finishing joint ninth, having shared fourth place at the U.S. Open five weeks earlier.
"I don't know what's held me back," shrugged Mahan. "It's hard to win tournaments out here. It's not easy. Phil (Mickelson) played unbelievable at the British Open and no one was going to beat him that day.
"I felt like at the U.S. Open, I wasn't that far off. I just had one or two shots that hurt me. I've just got to keep working, keep getting better at my all-around game, and I think I'll get there."
Mahan's only competition for the unofficial crown of PGA Tour's Father of Year might have been Mickelson, who made a coast-to-coast trip on the eve of the U.S. Open at Merion to attend his daughter's graduation in California.
This week, the on-course competition will be much tougher at Oak Hill where Mahan estimates that as many as 30 golfers have a shot at the PGA title.
"The depth and quality of the field now is pretty remarkable, especially at majors," he said. "I know it seemed like when I first joined the Tour there was maybe a handful of guys who could win and had a legitimate chance and by Sunday they were all up there.
"Now, there might be 20 guys with a legitimate chance when they step on the tee, maybe 25, 30, when they step on the tee on Thursday with a chance to win and they have the games and potential to do that.
"This is a world-class field and this is a world-class golf course, so you're going to have to play your best to win this week."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)