The little fist pump with his coach-cum-caddie Alan Murray on the 18th green as he completed his final round of the weather-hit Farmers Insurance Open told its own story, as it signalled a birdie finish for Paul Dunne - playing on a sponsor's invite - that ensured a tied-13th finish for the 23-year-old on his PGA Tour debut.
In earning a payday of some $120,000, Dunne - who finished with a 77 for level-par 288 to lie alongside Shane Lowry on that mark - also got further good news with confirmation of a late invite into this week's Waste Management Phoenix Open.
“Chuffed,” tweeted Dunne of that invite, although he was entitled to feel mighty chuffed too about his first appearance on the US circuit. Murray, his coach from his college days with the University of Alabama-Birmingham, proved to be a steadying influence on his bag.
Dunne’s closing birdie downhill from 15 feet enabled him to move onto the same mark as Lowry, who had shot a hugely impressive 73 in the tough conditions on Sunday which moved him up 28 places. Dunne, Lowry and Pádraig Harrington are all in the field for the tournament in Phoenix.
Brandt Snedeker earned an eighth career win on the PGA Tour without having to hit a competitive stroke on Monday’s delayed finish. The American had done all his work in Sunday’s dreadful conditions, shooting a quite brilliant 69 for a total of six-under-par 282. Neither KJ Choi nor Jimmy Walker, who finished their rounds amid the debris left from the storm, managed to stay clear of Snedeker.
In the end, Snedeker had one shot to spare over South Korean Choi while Walker fell away to shoot a closing 77 for 285 that left him in share of fourth. Walker struggled on resuming with four bogeys in his remaining eight holes of a conclusion to the tournament that was played with no spectators allowed onto the course due to health and safety concerns.
Snedeker hit more balls than anyone else Monday, but none of them counted as they were all on the range and on the putting green as he kept himself busy. “I hate watching this stuff when you have no control,” the champion quipped afterwards.
He added: “It’s unbelievable, this last 48 hours. Everything worked out perfectly for me. You couldn’t make up the strings of events that had to happen for me to have a chance.”
