Brandt Snedeker is back in the winner's circle, and it only took a back-nine birdie barrage to remind everyone why he's one of the most clutch players on the PGA Tour. On Sunday, the 45-year-old closed with a brilliant 5-under 66 to win the Myrtle Beach Classic, securing his first PGA Tour title in nearly eight years and punching an unexpected ticket to the PGA Championship.
For Snedeker, this victory is more than just a trophy—it's a career revival. The last time he hoisted a trophy was at the 2018 Wyndham Championship, and since then, he's battled through sternum surgery and the uncertainty of life without full playing privileges. Now, as the current U.S. Presidents Cup captain, he'll get a front-row seat to watch his potential American team members for the rest of the season, while also earning a spot in high-profile events he might not have dreamed of entering just weeks ago.
The drama at Dunes Golf and Beach Club came down to the wire. Snedeker's drive on the 18th hole strayed into the right trees, forcing him to pitch out to the fairway. He then two-putted from 30 feet for a bogey, leaving the door slightly ajar for Mark Hubbard. Hubbard, who was seeking his first PGA Tour win in his 274th career start, found himself tied for the lead after his own drive found trouble on the right. But his 25-foot par putt to force a playoff just missed the mark, and he settled for a final-round 70 and second place.
"I feel amazing," said an emotional Snedeker after his 10th career PGA Tour victory. "I feel so lucky to still be out here doing what I love. To have a chance to win a golf tournament at my age and to be able to pull it out is something super special. I'm just so pumped."
Hubbard, ever the graham cracker, took the near-miss in stride. "I thought I hit a much better wedge shot in there," he said. "The putt I left myself was 5 feet of break down grain. It's not a putt you're going to make too much, but I was just happy I gave it a good run."
Snedeker's final score of 18-under 266 was enough to secure the win, though the victory comes with a unique twist. Because the Myrtle Beach Classic is held opposite the signature event at Quail Hollow, the win does not earn him a spot in the Masters. It does, however, grant him entry into the PGA Championship, along with a two-year exemption that could be a game-changer for a player who has been fighting to extend his career.
"To not have my card the last couple of years, to be struggling to do what I love, to still have a passion for it—this means everything," Snedeker said. For fans of the game, it's a reminder that age and adversity are no match for talent and heart. And for Snedeker, it's proof that the comeback is always sweeter than the first time around.