KAPALUA, Maui » Had Brandt Snedeker’s best friend been his putter during Monday’s 36-hole marathon at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, he would be sitting on second-round leader Dustin Johnson’s golf bag.
Instead, the 2012 FedEx Cup champion enters today’s final round of this winners-only tournament tied for fourth, five shots off Johnson’s blistering pace.
"The putting," a flabbergasted Snedeker said with a wry smile. "I hit it really well; never put myself in too many bad spots. The strength of my game is putting. It left me. Missed a bunch of short putts. It’s tough out there. If you had a good feel for the greens and the speed, you could make some putts."
Snedeker needed 62 putts over the course of 36 holes. Golf Channel commentator Johnny Miller said on air Monday that Snedeker is the No. 1 putter in the world. But he never really got the feel of these difficult greens.
"Hopefully, I can come out tomorrow and put a scare into Dustin," Snedeker said of the second-round leader in this rain-and-wind-shortened event. "I’m hitting the ball really well. If I get a feel for things, you can go low out here. Dustin and Steve (Stricker) showed us that."
Inside the numbers
Mark Wilson and Bubba Watson had the only bogey-free opening rounds. No one turned that trick over the second 18 holes. Wilson, who parred all the par 5s in a first-round 69, will try to win his second Sony Open in Hawaii in three tries later this week on Oahu.
His playing partner was Ben Curtis, who was 5 over after two holes before Sunday’s round was scrapped. Curtis turned in a 3-under 70 Monday on his third attempt at the first round.
Matt Kuchar made a rapid recovery after shooting a solid 31 on the back nine of the afternoon round after bogeying five of his first seven holes. He is tied for 14th at 1-under 145.
Overall, the course played a half-stroke more difficult in the afternoon round with a scoring average of 72.483 than in the morning round at 71.967. The most difficult hole through 36 was the par-3 11th at 3.250. There were only three birdies for the day. The easiest hole was the par-5 18th at 4.433 with four eagles and 26 birdies against no bogeys.
Fowler first one in
Monday, more than 72 hours after the first round of the opening event of the season was originally scheduled to start, Rickie Fowler finally finished it. But for a three-putt par on the 18th, the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship winner would have had a share of the lead when he was the first to finish at about 11 a.m.
He and playing partner Jason Dufner rested for about an hour before heading out for the second round.
New teams for Challenge
Three of the pros originally scheduled to play in the Acura Hawaii Pro-Junior Challenge today will still be walking up the West Maui mountains. New teams have been created, with Kaneohe’s Dean Wilson now in the mix.
The exhibition, an annual part of Sony Open week, is today at 2:30 p.m. at Waialae Country Club’s 18th hole. It pairs PGA Tour pros and Hawaii State Junior Golf Association players in a skills challenge.
Wilson, who received an exemption into the tournament, will play with 2011 state high school champion Eimi Koga, a Moanalua senior. Fred Funk will partner with Punahou freshman Allisen Corpuz, and Davis Love III is Colby Takushi‘s new partner.
John Daly and Jerry Kelly are still teamed with Mariel Galdiano and Skye Inakoshi.
Defending champion Johnson Wagner, 2011 Sony champ Mark Wilson and Kuchar were scheduled to play originally.
Final round on TV
The Golf Channel’s live broadcast of today’s final round of the Hyundai TOC is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The hourlong Golf Central Pre Game begins at 7 a.m. and the 30-minute Golf Central post-round show is scheduled for 1 p.m. A tournament re-broadcast follows.
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The Star-Advertiser’s Ann Miller contributed to this report.
