Brandt Snedeker watches, wins at Torrey Pines

Brandt Snedeker won the weather affected Farmers Insurance Open without hitting a shot on Monday as his closest pursuers struggled in the brutal conditions at Tory Pines Golf Course in southern California.

In what may be one of the most impressive rounds recorded at Torrey Pines – Tiger Woods winning the 2008 U.S. Open on a broken leg is up there, too – Snedeker shot a three-under 69 in the final round on Sunday in frightful conditions to finish the tournament at six under. The 41-year-old was 2-over thru 11 holes when play was suspended for the day on Sunday, one back of 72-hole clubhouse leader Brandt Snedeker and two adrift of the leader on the course Jimmy Walker (10 holes). That dropped him to 5 under, and his last chance to catch Snedeker was a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th that missed by a yard.

Having delivered one of the great closing rounds on the PGA Tour on Sunday, all he could do was wait to see if it was good enough when the wind-blown tournament concluded before no spectators because of safety concerns for all the debris on the South Course at Torrey Pines.

But he settled for par, and a final round 76, to sit second alone at five-under while Kevin Streelman (74) took third at four under. He was the only player to shoot under par Sunday among the 71 who made the 36-hole cut.

“I thought I was out of the tournament starting on Sunday morning”, he said. He was in control of the ball, hit handsome iron shots, putted well. Ultimately, Walker and 36-hole co-leader Choi were unable to match Snedeker’s 6-under-282 total.

Australian Aaron Baddeley looked a chance after playing his opening nine holes in even par and getting as high as a tie for sixth only to have a bogey train derail his hopes.

Birds fled the premises instead of hanging around for the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open, a few trees buckled under the pressure of consistent rain and pounding wind, and the players muscled up just to stay upright.

His wife, Mandy, finally made him go outside, where he received regular updates from TV commentator Dottie Pepper – on the putting green, on the range, on the putting green again.

“I don’t know how I shot what I shot”, an exhausted Snedeker said, minutes before the horn stopped play for the third and final time at 1:58 p.m. Snedeker’s 69 was the only under-par score in the final round and the average number posted was just under 78.

He added: “I wish I could say why I shot what I shot today”.

This time, he’ll need some help from Mother Nature.

Walker tied for fourth, three shots back.

When he woke up Monday morning to start the waiting game, there was hardly any wind at all.