Rookie Snedeker eyes major impact in new year

KAPALUA, Hawaii: American Brandt Snedeker has set his sights on golf's biggest events in 2008 after being voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in his maiden campaign.

Snedeker, whose glittering 2007 season included victory at the Wyndham Championship and more than $2.8 million in earnings, is eager to experience the thrill of major contention.

"I want to be there on Saturdays and Sundays and see what it's like," the 27-year-old from Tennessee told reporters at Kapalua's Plantation Course on Monday during preparation for the 2008 PGA Tour's opening event.

"Get myself under some fire and see how I react. We get to play against the best in the world and (you) see where your game stacks up. It's obviously something that's very special.

"Last year my main goal was to keep a job for this year (2008). This year I want to put myself in contention a lot, give myself a lot of chances to win and be there in some majors."

Snedeker, who booked his place in the elite field for this week's Mercedes-Benz Championship with his maiden Tour victory in August, has refined his tournament strategy.

"I have a much more specific game plan, a much more specific regimen of what I need to do to get ready," he said. "More than anything else, it's about learning to go through a week out here on Tour.

"Learning how to go through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so that by Thursday you're ready to go, you're prepared and you're not run down."

Although Snedeker piled up six top-10 finishes in 29 starts before ending the 2007 season 17th in the Tour money list with $2,836,643, he accepts he still has much to learn.

"Every part of my game is loose right now," he said. "I'm a rookie on Tour. Nothing is refined yet. I'm just going to keep working on it and hopefully I'll get there."

Snedeker, struggling this week to shake off a bout of flu, has one eye firmly focused on the biennial Ryder Cup team competition, which takes place next year in Louisville, Kentucky, from September 19-21.

"That's my main goal," he said. "Valhalla (Golf Club) is two-and-a-half hours, three hours where I'm from in Nashville so it would be a great place for me to make a Ryder Cup debut."

Agencies

(China Daily 01/02/2008 page23)