Round 3: The Barclays

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Brandt Snedeker shot a final-round 10-under 61 on Saturday at The Barclays.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

EDISON, N.J. — The thought crossed Brandt Snedeker’s mind Saturday at The Barclays after he posted his seventh birdie of the day at the 10th hole. With two par 5s and a drivable par 4 still left in his round, he began having visions.

59.

"Oh, yeah," he said. "A lot of good stuff could happen. I liked my chances at that point."

It was not to be. A bogey at the par-4 13th derailed his chances, but Snedeker still ended up with a 10-under 61, setting the course record at Plainfield Country Club and tying for the lowest round of his career.

Snedeker finished the tournament with a three-day total of 16 under. But he walked off the course feeling like he had come up just short; he was three shots behind leader Dustin Johnson when he finished his round.

"I knew (the leaders) were going to make birdies, so I knew I had to go," Snedeker said. "I felt like my best opportunity was to get to 18 under par, which would’ve been a 59. Then if some rain and some wind came in, I might have an outside chance.

"But the course is so soft — you can get at every pin. You can really get out there and shoot a low one."

Snedeker opened Saturday’s round with five consecutive birdies and knew early that he had something special going. He made the turn at 29 and had the hot putter — he had already made four putts between 11 and 27 feet on the front nine.

Five years ago in his rookie season, Snedeker was 10 under through 10 holes at Torrey Pines north course. Like Saturday, the thought of 59 crossed his mind that day. And like Saturday, he ended up shooting 61.

"I kind of messed that one up," he said. "Today, I knew I had a chance but I bogeyed a hole on the back nine. Still, it was a lot of fun."

Snedeker started the tournament ranked 18th in FedExCup points but could project as high as the top five depending on how the final leaderboard shakes out.

"FedExCup is what we’re here for," he said. "It’s a huge event and to come out and play well in the first leg of it is big for confidence and great for momentum."