It was good news, hearing that Brandt Snedeker received so much support from galleries at the Verizon Heritage this past weekend. People evidently connected with the fact that he had poured out his heart on the course at Augusta National, and poured it out some more in the news conference afterward.
Snedeker was in the final group with champion Trevor Immelman and when he eagled the par-5 second hole, it sure looked like Snedeker had a real shot to win the Masters. But he foundered, like just about everyone else. It all caught up with him afterward, when he was in the press building.
With just about every question, he seemed like he was going to choke up. I must admit to this: The Augusta member who was hosting that news conference said, "We have time for two more questions for Brandt." So I was the one who asked Snedeker just what the emotion was that was overwhelming him: was he proud, disappointed, drained? To his credit, he said "I don't have a clue." He pointed out that he had been laughing outsided. Then he just started crying, at which time the host just ended the news conference. And I took some heat from the other writers about "knowing how to kill a news conference."
Personally, I thought it was remarkably authentic and compelling on Snedeker's part. I guess he realized how close he was but that it just wasn't his time. His time is coming.