NAPA, Calif. – Brandt Snedeker didn’t qualify for the TOUR Championship, but made his kids watch Tiger Woods pick up his historic 80th win at East Lake. Snedeker didn’t make the U.S. Ryder Cup team, either, but he watched that on TV, too, as the Americans got clobbered. Not long ago, Snedeker played in those select tournaments, so when he watched them from afar he wasn’t just keeping track of his friends, he was also reminding himself of where he wants to be. He’ll soon return to that rare air if his play Thursday is any indication; Snedeker shot an opening-round 66 under overcast skies at the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort & Spa. “It was kind of a disappointing year, even though I won,� Snedeker said of the season just ended, when he got off to a slow start only to shoot 59 on the way to winning the Wyndham Championship, the last tournament before the FedExCup Playoffs. “One week can almost make up for a poor year, but I didn’t play up to my standard. East Lake is kind of the bar for me; if I don’t make East Lake, it’s a bad year.� Playing alongside Fred Couples and Patrick Cantlay in the first round of the new season Thursday, Snedeker made over 106 feet of putts and, finishing on the front nine, birdied five of his last six holes. So far, so good in making it back to East Lake for the nine-time TOUR winner and 2012 FedExCup champion. “The last two months I’ve really started playing better golf,� said Snedeker, 37, who last played the Safeway three years ago, when he finished T17. His first-round 59 at the Wyndham was the 10th sub-60 score in PGA TOUR history, and he went wire-to-wire for the win, his second at Sedgefield Country Club. Now he’s looking to notch his 10th victory in fitting fashion; Snedeker already has four wins in California, two apiece at the Farmers Insurance Open and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-am. “California for whatever reason has always been good to me,� he said. “I like the lifestyle here, I like the people. Kind of where my career got started was at Torrey in my rookie year in ’07, and ever since then I’ve just loved it when I get on a plane that’s going west.� OBSERVATIONS WRIGHT’S SUPER START: Chase Wright had quite a week last week, getting engaged to his girlfriend, Gretchen Zoeller, daughter of the former TOUR pro Fuzzy. Wright, 29, is having a big week this week, too, after making six birdies and an eagle in his opening-round 64 to take the early lead in his first start of his rookie season. “Good first day at the office,� Wright said after hitting all 18 greens in regulation and making 100 feet of putts. He was the leader in Strokes Gained: Putting after the morning wave. The University of Indiana alumnus was having a solid if unremarkable round before he went 6-under for his last seven holes, including an eagle at the par-5 16th. Wright is a Web.com Tour graduate who has won at every level, most significantly at the Rust-Oleum Championship last season, which made him enough money to ensure he would graduate to the PGA TOUR. He once lived in Bloomington, Indiana, with Jeff Overton, the former TOUR pro who has battled back injuries of late, but recently moved to Naples, Fla. As for advice from his future father-in-law Zoeller, Wright said, “He’s seen me play enough, so he’s just like, ‘Just relax and go play. It’s just a game.’� Wright smiled. “That’s how some of those old guys like to think of it. We make it a little harder than it should be sometimes.� NOTABLES FRED COUPLES – Making his first non-major PGA TOUR start in 2 ½ years, the 59-year-old Hall of Famer hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens but putted terribly for a 1-over 73. “If I could have putted for him,� said playing partner Brandt Snedeker, “he’d have shot 63 or 64.� SAM SAUNDERS – Crediting his new right-to-left ball flight, Arnold Palmer’s grandson shot 66. “I played a big cut the last few years, and last year a lot of my good play was due to just driving the ball a lot longer and straighter,� Saunders said. “This golf course fits my eye a lot better now, being able to turn it over off the tee.� SUNGJAE IM – In his debut PGA TOUR season after leading the Web.com Tour money list from start to finish last season, Korea’s Im, 20, saved par on his last hole for a 6-under 66. QUOTABLES It’s not too difficult to be in a good mood out here.I could barely see my tee shot because it was so dark. Good first day at the office.
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