Golf: Ryder cup hero Brandt Snedeker edges Kiwi Michael Hendry in Fiji International

Brandt Snedeker beat out Kiwi Michael Hendry at the Fiji International this week. Photo / Photosport

By Guy Heveldt

Brandt Snedeker came, saw and blew the rest of the Fiji International field away.

A week after being a part of the successful American Ryder Cup campaign, Snedeker demolished his rivals at Natadola Bay to win by nine shots.

He carded a final round four-under par 68 in yet more blustery conditions, with just one bogey in an otherwise masterful display. Snedeker finished at 16-under for the tournament, with the knowledge he would bank $265,000 winner's cheque throughout most of the final round.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start to the day birdieing the first hole," he said. "I never really let up."

It caps off an impressive fortnight for Snedeker, who secured three points for the US in their win over Europe at Hazeltine.

"It's been a pretty good two weeks. I was joking with somebody that I might have to add another tournament next week," he laughed.

It's his first win since the Farmers Insurance Open in January and 12th victory as a professional. Along the way he's won eight times on the PGA Tour, including the lucrative FedEx Cup. Now, he just wants a major.

"I've done a lot of other stuff in my career," he said. "There's a lot of stuff between now and then (Masters 2017) I need to do."

But, he feels Augusta is his best shot at breaking through at that level.

"I feel like the Masters is a place that I know really, really well. I love that place. I think it's got something special in my heart and that would be the one I would want to win."

Kiwi Michael Hendry had an impressive second placing himself. After opening with a first round of one-over 73, the Japan Tour player improved throughout the week, finishing with an even par 72 to complete a seven-under week.

Hendry said it was an extremely frustrating final round, especially with the putter.

"I hit so many good shots. I really only played one bad hole, but just putts where I thought I'd hit in the right line, they didn't break or just bounced off line."

But he's not going to let it get to him. "That's golf. I felt like it wasn't any fault of my own. I felt like I was hitting the putts where I wanted to, but it was just really tough to read," Hendry concluded.

While he hasn't had a win this year, it's his eighth top five finish and sees him take home $176,686. "I'm extremely happy with the way I'm playing. I can't ask for more other than a win," Hendry said. "My game's there, it's just having a week where the putts drop."

The third-ranked Kiwi was in awe of Snedeker's dominance. "He's one of the best players in the world for a reason. And it's not that he's a million miles better than everyone at everything, he's just that little bit better than everyone at everything."

Hendry's prize of $176,686 puts him at the top of the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. He now heads to the Japan Open this week where he hopes to build on his sixth place on the Japan Tour's Order of Merit.

Meanwhile, an eagle at the par five 17th propelled New Zealand's Brad Shilton to a final round of three-under 69 and into a tie for third finish at six-under overall.​