PGA Tour

Safeway Open 2018

October 04-07

Silverado Country Club, Napa, California

$6,400,000

October 04-07

Silverado Country Club, Napa, California

$6,400,000

Round 3

Brandt Snedeker fires three straight birdies to hold on to Safeway Open lead

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

October 06, 2018

Brandt Snedeker closed with three straight birdies in a three-under par 69 on Saturday to maintain his three-shot lead at the Safeway Open, the first event of the US PGA Tour 2018-19 season.

Even for the round through 15 holes after two birdies and two bogeys, he roared home with a three-foot birdie at the par five 16th and a seven-footer at 17.

At 18, his putt from off the green left him a tap-in for his fifth birdie of the day and a 16-under total of 200.

American Kevin Tway was alone in second on 203 after a bogey-free four-under 68. Tway's back-to-back birdies at seven and eight included a hole out from the bunker at the eighth. He added birdies at 16 and 18 to edge ahead of South Korean rookie Im Sung-jae, who claimed the last of his six birdies at the 18th for a 69 that put him on 204.

He was one stroke in front of American Bill Haas, who carded a 67 for 205.

"I knew the first part of the back nine was going to be playing tough, I was just trying to survive," said Snedeker, who kept his cool as his lead dwindled.

"I wasn't driving particularly great. I was just trying to get it up around the greens and make pars and wait until I could get some downwind holes.

"I did a great job staying patient, realizing that I wasn't losing ground by making pars there."

Phil Mickelson, who started the day sharing second three strokes behind Snedeker, had his struggles, including a double-bogey six at the eighth on the way to a two-over 74.

The five-time major winner, who had been pleasantly surprised by his first two rounds after a tough 0-2 performance at the Ryder Cup in France last week, finished with three bogeys and three birdies, picking up a stroke at the 16th but unable to take advantage of the more favorable wind at 17 and 18.

He finished the day in a group sharing 15th place on eight-under par 208.