Brandt Snedeker didn't have to take a back seat to anyone at Pebble Beach.
A runner-up to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson each of the last two weeks, Snedeker finished off a record performance Sunday with a 7-under 65 for a two-shot victory over Chris Kirk in the Pebble Beach (Calif.) National Pro-Am.Snedeker holed a 10-foot birdie on the 17th hole, and then tapped in for par to finish at 19-under 267. That broke the tournament record by one shot held by Mickelson (2007) and Mark O'Meara (1997), who each had a 20-under 268 when Poppy Hills was still in the rotation."Feels great to finish one," he said. "The last two weeks, playing great but running into two Hall of Famers, really motivated me to go out and prove that I can handle the lead."In five starts this year, he already had a win, two second-place finishes and a third. He never had much of a chance against Woods at Torrey Pines or Mickelson at the Phoenix Open, who each had big leads going into the final round.Snedeker was tied with James Hahn, a 31-year-old rookie from the Bay Area, and seized control with an eagle and three birdies on the opening seven holes. Snedeker responded to his only bogey, a three-putt at No. 9, with birdies on the next two holes.Snedeker goes to No. 4 in the world, the highest ranking of his career and second only to Woods among Americans."Kind of crazy to think what's happened," he said.He'll vacation on Maui before the run-up to the Masters. Winning a major is the next step for Snedeker, 32, now a veritable threat wherever he plays with a confident putting stroke and a dramatic increase in fairways hit off the tee.Hahn shot a 2-under 70 and tied for third with former Baylor standout Jimmy Walker (66) and Kevin Stadler (65).Jordan Spieth of Dallas and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo tied for third in the pro-am at 29 under. Snedeker and Toby Wilt tied for first at 31 under with Michael Letzig and amateur John Erickson.Briefly Champions Tour: Rocco Mediate won his 50-and-over debut with a birdie at No. 18 to shoot a 1-under 71 and win the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla. Finishing at 17-under 199, he became the 16th player to win his Champions debut. Tom Pernice Jr. missed a 5-foot birdie putt, failing to force a playoff. Australia LPGA: Top-ranked amateur Lydia Ko, 15, won a pro event for the third time, shooting a 68 to take the New Zealand Women's Open at 10-under -- a shot better than American Amelia Lewis. Both were tied approaching 18. Ko won with a par. European PGA: Richard Sterne's 64 won the Joburg Open in Johannesburg, South Africa, by seven shots at 27 under.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
