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PGA Championship: Dark Horse Candidates at Bethpage Black

By Christopher O'Day

BETHPAGE, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Signage is displayed during a practice round prior to the 2019 PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black course on May 13, 2019 in Bethpage, New York. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
BETHPAGE, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Signage is displayed during a practice round prior to the 2019 PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black course on May 13, 2019 in Bethpage, New York. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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Brandt Snedeker
NAPA, CA – OCTOBER 16: Brandt Snedeker of USA plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second round of the Frys.com Open on October 16, 2015 at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Brandt Snedeker – 150/1

During The Barclay’s in 2012, Snedeker managed a 2nd place finish, shooting rounds of 70-69-68-70. Although it was nearly seven years ago, it still should give him confidence that he can play well at the course.

When considering Snedeker as a dark horse, I realized there are two different players. The one off the tee and approaching the green, and the one with a killer short game.

Just about every player has an area of their game that they struggle with, and one that they are good at. For Snedeker, it is a pretty wide gap. Off the tee he is 179th, and approaching the green he is 115th. Neither one of those are good.

When he gets in close, he is a completely different player. He is 4th around the green, and 19th in putting. He goes from a combined SG of -.326 in his poor categories, to a combined 1.148 SG in his good ones. He is so good at his short game this year, that he is 39th in SG total.

As long as Snedeker can put himself in decent situations, his fantastic short game play should get him to Sunday. As players deal with the difficult course, Snedeker could sneak his way in for a shot at the PGA Championship.

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