Brandt Snedeker
With a famously fast pace and a silky-smooth putting stroke, this golfer rose to the top of the game by winning the FedEx Cup and shooting a magical 59.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American professional golfer·Birthday: December 8·Generation X
Biography
Brandt Snedeker plays golf with a refreshing urgency, a rapid-fire walk between shots that belies the calm precision of his short game. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, he announced himself as a premier talent by winning the U.S. Amateur Public Links championship, which earned him a Masters invitation. He turned professional in 2004 and quickly made his mark, being named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007. Snedeker's career is built on his wizardry with the putter; when his flat stick is hot, he is capable of going profoundly low, as evidenced by his 59 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship. His crowning achievement came in 2012 when he captured the Tour Championship and, with it, the FedEx Cup, a victory that cemented his status among the game's elite. While injuries have occasionally interrupted his momentum, Snedeker remains a fan favorite for his relatable demeanor, quick pace of play, and the sheer joy he visibly exhibits when his game is on. He represents the classic American tour pro: fiercely competitive, technically brilliant in one key area, and fundamentally human in his triumphs and struggles.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brandt was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brandt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Brandt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2012 FedEx Cup championship and its $10 million bonus by claiming victory at the Tour Championship.
- Shot a 59 in the first round of the 2018 Wyndham Championship, one of the few sub-60 rounds in PGA Tour history.
- Won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2013 and 2015.
- Was the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007 after a season that included five top-10 finishes.
Did You Know?
He is known for being one of the fastest players on the PGA Tour, rarely taking time to line up putts.
He played collegiate golf at Vanderbilt University in his hometown of Nashville.
He won the 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links, which earned him an invitation to the Masters Tournament.
He is a passionate fan of the Nashville Predators NHL team and has been known to sound the goal siren at their games.
““I'm not the longest guy out here, I'm not the most talented guy out here, but I know how to get the ball in the hole.””
