Two players this year have won Majors at age 32 and American Brandt Snedeker is hoping to be the third in capturing the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
Australia’s Adam Scott turned 33 today but he was aged 32 when he captured this year’s Masters at Augusta National.
England’s Justin Rose was also 32 years of age when he claimed his first Major at last month’s US Open at Merion and it just so happens the curly haired American is the same age as he arrives to play in his fifth Open Championship.
“I’ve been told about that a few times and I love it,” said Snedeker.
“It’s a good precedent but the hardest part is making sure to keep it going. But I’ll take any quirky thing and use it in my favour.”
The Nashville, Tennessee based Snedeker missed the cut on his first three visits to the Open but showed last year that he has learned how to cope with links conditions by finishing third behind Ernie Els and Adam Scott at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
“I think I have finally learned that you need to be patient when you’re playing links golf. You need to know that sometimes you’re going to hit a quality shot and not be rewarded and you need to know that sometimes the ball is going to bounce 50 yards off line.
“I’m sorry, that’s just the way it is. It’s just so different to what we are used to but it’s also great fun. You’re going to hit what looks like horrible golf shots that really aren’t that bad, but you’ve got to be patient enough to know everybody is going to do it. It’s not the end of the world. But that’s really tough to accept because you feel like every shot is so important in the Majors.
Snedeker is making his first visit to Muirfield but he has taken an instant liking to it.
“The golf course is fantastic,” he said. “It’s unlike any British I have played in before, because the ball is bouncing everywhere. It’s really firm and fast but the course is in fantastic shape. The greens are some of the best I’ve seen. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
The American has strong opinions on what makes Muirfield so special. “It’s very straightforward,” he argues.
“It’s right in front of you. You know when you hit a good shot, you get rewarded. If you hit a bad shot, you’re going to pay the penalty. I’m not saying that’s not true with most British golf, but this one seems more so like that.
“There’s no bunkers in the middle of the fairway. There’s very defined areas where you need to hit it. It’s a great mix of holes. I chart what I hit in practice and I’ve hit every club in the bag every day. It’s just a really cool mix of holes.”
And Snedeker will play the opening two rounds in the company of Rose and defending Open Champion Ernie Els.
