Snedeker cruises to win at Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach, CA – Brandt Snedeker fired a 7-under 65 on Sunday and picked up a 2-stroke win at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Snedeker finished his fifth PGA Tour title at 19-under-par 267. His total of 267 established a new tournament scoring record as he bettered the old mark of 268, which Mark O'Meara set in 1997 and Phil Mickelson tied in 2007.

The win was Snedeker's fourth victory since the start of the 2011 season. He will move to No. 4 in the world rankings on Monday.

"It's kind of crazy to think about what has happened the last four months, it's been pretty crazy. To finish the West Coast off this way is special," Snedeker said in a TV interview. "This is such a special place Pebble Beach. To win while playing with a good friend, it's just too perfect."

Chris Kirk carded a 6-under 66 at Pebble Beach to grab second place at minus-17.

James Hahn, who shared the third-round lead with Snedeker, managed a 2-under 70 on Sunday. He was joined in third place at 14-under-par 272 with Jimmy Walker (66) and Kevin Stadler (65).

"I couldn't have asked for anything more. I was 1-under for the tournament playing my ninth hole yesterday, and just had a pretty awesome little turnaround," said Walker, who played the final 28 holes in 13-under par. "I was really happy. Things feel like they're right there. The putter started working yesterday and I'm excited to go to Riviera next week."

Jason Day closed with a 67 and ended alone in sixth at minus-13.

Mickelson, last year's winner, had four birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey in an even-par round of 72. He finished tied for 60th at 1-under-par 285.

Snedeker finished second the last two weeks and got off to a quick start as he rolled in a 4-footer for eagle on the par-5 second to grab a 1-stroke lead over Hahn, who 2-putted for birdie from inside eight feet.

After pars on the third, Snedeker birdied the fourth from just over eight feet after Hahn had made birdie from a little more than a foot further out. That brief tie was the last of the day.

Hahn dropped two back with a bogey on the fifth, and never threatened again as carded 12 pars and a birdie over the final 13 holes.

Snedeker 2-putted for birdie on the par-5 sixth and made it two in a row with a 16-footer for birdie at seven. He stumbled to a 3-putt bogey at the par-4 ninth, but was still two clear of Kirk.

The reigning FedExCup champ erased that mistake with a 26-foot birdie effort at 10. Snedeker made it two in a row with a birdie on No. 11 and that pushed his lead to four.

Snedeker cruised to five straight pars before converting a 10-footer for birdie at 17. He 2-putted for par from 30 feet out at the last to seal the victory.

"I would love to be known as the best American golfer, but I've got a long way to do that, but this is great start to the year. I couldn't have scripted much of a better one, except for maybe winning the last two weeks," Snedeker said.

"I played four great rounds of golf. I mean I played solid every day and didn't give away too many shots, and this is what I'm capable of."

Snedeker was the eighth player since 1990 to finish runner-up in back-to-back weeks on the PGA Tour, but no player won the third week. Mark Calcavecchia did take second in three consecutive weeks in 1990.

NOTES: Snedeker earned $1.17 million for the win ... He was the fourth 54-hole leader in the last five events that has won the title ... This was Snedeker's fourth win since the start of 2011, which ties him with Tiger Woods for second place behind Rory McIlroy's five PGA Tour wins in that span ... Snedeker and his amateur partner, Toby S. Wilt, shared the pro-am title with Michael Letzig and John Erickson ... Retief Goosen earned his Major Medical Extension for the remainder of the year with his tie for ninth ... The tour heads to Riviera next week for the Northern Trust Open, where Bill Haas beat Keegan Bradley and Mickelson with a 43-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole last year.