CHASKA, Minn. – After sitting out the morning foursome session, which was swept by the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Brandt Snedeker got the call for afternoon fourball play with a specific mission.
“I had two jobs to do today,” Snedeker said. “One was to go out there and make putts. The other one was to make Brooks [Koepka] feel comfortable and let him do what he’s capable of doing, which was what we saw today.”
Snedeker and Koepka managed to win the U.S. team’s only point in the afternoon session, a 5-and-4 victory over Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett.
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The two combined for seven birdies through 14 holes, compared to just two birdies for the European twosome.
Koepka, one of two rookies on the U.S. team this week, didn’t appear overly nervous despite the stage. After watching his teammates tee off for the morning session, he went back to the team room to take a nap, and he birdied two of his first three holes in the afternoon.
“We got off to a good start and we both kept the ball in play,” Koepka said. “I drove it really well. I felt like I hit quite a few greens and it seemed every time Brandt was on the greens, he made a putt. It’s tough for those guys, but I felt like we were always one step ahead.”