2013 FedEx Cup: Brandt Snedeker Opens With 63 at Conway Farms

2012 FedEx Cup Champion, Brandt Snedeker opened with an eight under par 63 on Thursday afternoon at the BMW Championship and got in the clubhouse with a one-shot lead over 2007 Masters Champion, Zach Johnson. Snedeker started his day on the back nine, and got hot early. He birdied seven holes in a row starting at the 13th hole, and didn’t stop until he had birdied number one. 

The two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year picked up his eighth, and final birdie at the par three sixth hole. He didn’t have a bogey on his card, but looked irritated when he had to settle for par at the par five eighth hole.

Snedeker had the biggest part of his game going on Thursday, and was able to hit greens with regularity. He hit two-thirds of the greens in regulation, and let his superb putting stroke do the rest. Strokes Gained Putting for the former champ was over three and a half strokes. That will get the job done.

The 2012 Champion was the hottest golfer on tour when the season started back in January. He finished second two weeks in a row to Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines, and Phil Mickelson in Scottsdale. After winning the National ProAm at Pebble Beach, he took time off to heal a rib problem he said he picked up at the Humana Challenge.

After returning, Snedeker looked to struggle at times before picking up a win at the RBC Canadian Open. He began the week in ninth position on the FedEx list, and is projected to be number one if he can hang on for the win this week.

The opening 63 is his lowest round of the year, and he is the first FedEx Cup winner to make it this far into the next year’s playoff. If this guy gets hot with his putter again, look out.