American Brandt Snedeker claimed a three-shot win at the Tour Championship to take the $10 million FedEx Cup play-off prize.
American stays calm during final round to earn $10 million payday
Brandt Snedeker produced a nerveless final round to claim a three-shot win at the Tour Championship and take the $10 million FedEx Cup play-off jackpot in the process.
The 31-year-old American came into the tournament within the top-five of the play-off standings and knew that a win at East Lake would be enough to take the fortune.
But he showed no signs of buckling under the pressure as he carded a 68 over his final 18 holes to finish on 10-under par, well clear of Justin Rose who was second on seven under.
Rose's fellow Englishman Luke Donald finished one shot further back after shooting a round of 67 for the second consecutive day to share third place with Ryan Moore.
Rory McIlroy had looked to be the player most likely to deprive Snedeker of the huge payday, which totals $11.4 million when the prize for winning the actual tournament is taken into account, but he could only muster a disappointing final round of 74 to finish in a share of 10th.
McIlroy had won the two previous play-off events and so took a points lead into the showdown, but the system allows any of the top five to take the overall honours with a win.
Joint overnight leader with Rose, Snedeker had a nasty moment when he went in the lake on the dangerous short sixth and double-bogeyed, but McIlroy had done the same moments before.
Putt
Snedeker, one of the sport's great putters, came back by holing from nearly 40 feet at the eighth and 18 feet on the 13th.
Still there was work to be done as Moore caught him with birdies of his own at the 14th and 15th, but Snedeker matched the second of those and the issue was effectively settled when he chipped in at the 17th.
Rose, meanwhile, had also birdied the 15th and took second place after Moore dropped two more shots at the end, making a 14-footer for par on the last, a hole which Snedeker bogeyed.
McIlroy's finish was still good enough to make him second in the final standings and pick up a cheque for $3 million in addition to his tournament winnings.
All European fans will be hoping he is back to his best by the start of the Ryder Cup on Friday after a round which included a double bogey and four bogeys.
Lee Westwood had a day to forget as well, a 74 leaving him dead last of the 30-strong field on 15 over.
"I had complete confidence in what I was doing. It's just unbelievable for everybody in my team and it gave me calm that this is not the most important thing in my world," Snedeker said.
"I don't know where it came from, but I hope to rekindle it in the future."
