World Golf News - 02 February 2012

On the US PGA Tour, a victorious Brandt Snedeker won his third career title when he snatched a final hole victory at the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday.

At the end of a hotly contested final round, Snedeker and fellow-American Kyle Stanley both finished even to force a playoff at the Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego, California. After a tie at the first hole, Snedeker clinched the title when his five-foot par putt found the cup at the second extra hole. When Stanley failed to make par, the tournament ended with Snedeker lifting the trophy.

Stanley had lead the tournament on day three, but his five stroke lead was rapidly eroded during the final round as Snedeker’s impressive performance on the course and disastrous luck saw the tournament leader forced into a playoff. For his part, Snedeker remained cool-headed throughout the tournament as he proved to golf fans that a tournament is never over until the final hole.

The European Tour continued its co-sanctioned leg this week as golfers headed to the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Championship.

As the weather turned from hot to warm over the weekend, offering golfers not accustomed to the desert heat an opportunity to focus and enjoy the course to its fullest, a final round showdown developed between former world number one Tiger Woods and Britain’s Robert Rock.

Woods had produced three excellent rounds of golf going into the final round, reminding fans of the incredible form that propelled him to the top of the world golf rankings. As he started the final round tied with Rock for a share of the lead, commentators were convinced that Woods would clinch the title with ease.

To their surprise however, the former world number one saw his game deteriorate during the final round as he struggled to reach greens in regulation and opened the door for Rock to seize victory. Woods shared third place with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell while Rory McIlroy finished second.

Golfweather Editorial