Poor Brandt Snedeker: A Four Jack from 13 Feet

It has to be a tough morning for Brandt Snedeker.  He was assured a spot in the Tour Championship if he could just two putt from above the 18th cup from 12 feet, 9 inches.  Instead, he four-putted.  Now he's got a few weeks off until he can start playing in Fall Series events. 

Snedeker had been making a very nice run in the Playoffs.  In fact, other than Heath Slocum and Mark Leishman, he had probably made the most impressive run up the FedExCup standings.

It was an awfully expensive mistake.  As Bob Harig at ESPN points out, that debacle cost Snedeker a LOT of money.  The miss of the first putt cost him $97,500.  Second miss added on $78,750.  The final miss was another 45 large.  All told, Snedeker cost himself $221,250 at Cog Hill.

On top of that, Snedeker cost himself $120,000 just for showing up at East Lake by qualifying.  He could have gotten DQ'd on the first tee and made that money.  Even further, he lost his additional share in the $35 million FedExCup bonus pool - whatever that would have turned out to be.

Perhaps the FedExCup has its first real, sympathetic bubble boy.

It created an opportunity for John Senden to get to Atlanta instead.  Walking off the course angry about a double bogey at 17 that he thought cost him his spot, Senden was given a reprieve thanks to Snedeker's nerves.

This is the kind of volatility and storytelling that seemed missing from the first couple of FedExCups.  The first season had almost no movement at all.  The second saw too much movement.  Though the format is still in flux, it was compelling to see these two guys - along with Ian Poulter and Luke Donald - concern themselves with getting into Atlanta for a free payday and some extra spending cash.

Simultaneously, the Tour and NBC Sports did a pretty decent job in building some drama around the Magic Five in the FEC standings.  Ultimately, that five consist of Woods, Stricker, Heath Slocum, and Zach Johnson.  Jim Furyk - winless in 52 PGA Tour starts - played his way in as a bit of a wild card.  Were he to pull this out on Sunday, he would become the first controversial winner of the Cup and may insert some more life into the concept.