Golf: British Open-bound: Molder, Goydos and Snedeker
By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON — Bryce Molder, Paul Goydos and Brandt Snedeker earned spots in the British Open on Sunday in the AT&T National.
Molder and Goydos earned spots through a special money list that covers six tournaments, while Snedeker got there because he was the leading player among the top five at Congressional who hadn’t already qualified.
“Floored and excited,” said Snedeker, whose closing round of 67 was just enough to earn him a tie for fifth at 7-under 273.
Snedeker wasn’t even aware that he had qualified when he left the course at Congressional Country Club. He missed eight weeks earlier this year with a rib injury and had been planning to play the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee during the week of the British, which takes place at Turnberry in Scotland in two weeks.
“My golf game was in bad shape before I got hurt,” Snedeker said. “The first time I felt healthy, I didn’t know what to think about coming back out. People gave me the sympathy vote last week when I made the cut — first cut I’d made in a while, and it ticked me off. I don’t want sympathy. This week, I felt like I proved to everyone and myself that I can get back to where I was.”
Molder will be playing the British for the first time, while Goydos and Snedeker both missed the cut last year at Royal Birkdale.
“I know I was fairly close,” said Molder, who closed with a 68 for an 8-under 272 total to finish fourth. “I knew it was a lot of factors going on; it wasn’t just me playing well, it was other people if they played well. ... It sounds like I’m in now, and I’m really excited.”