Imagine This: Creative Snedeker Is One Shot Behind the Leader

AUGUSTA, Ga. Nothing defines the Masters more than the need for creative and daring imagination. On almost any shot within 60 yards, a virtuoso can devise a half-dozen different ways to accomplish the same objective: get it close or get it in. Thanks to humps, knolls and knobs in the swaying greens, plus deep bunkers and steep side-hill lies, Augusta National intimidates and embarrasses golfers stuck with a one-approach-fits-all short game.

However, if a young star appears who actually loves the brainy challenges of the Masters and becomes inspired, rather than demoralized, by the draining mental labor of this course, he might become a perennial contender in April. According to no less than Tom Watson -- a Mr. Imagination himself -- we might have another what-will-he-think-of-next newcomer in Brandt Snedeker, last season's PGA Tour rookie of the year, who's one shot behind leader Trevor Immelman, after rounds of 69-68 -- 137.

Over the years, Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have helped separate themselves here by executing shots that others could not even conceive: holing shots on which they aimed in the opposite direction from the cup or using the slopes to make their ball turn in an almost complete circle.

"I hooked up with Brandt in the practice rounds. We played together in the par-3 and we were paired in the first two rounds. I was very impressed," Watson said. "He hit the ball a long way, hit it solidly and can work the ball [in either direction]. So he's got a lot of tools. But the imagination is what impresses me. His is wonderful. And you have to have that here."

Let's hope Old Tom is right. Snedeker is one of the game's most delightful self-deprecating new faces. Asked how he spent the crucial preparatory hour before teeing off Thursday, Snedeker said he just relaxed on the clubhouse veranda and watched the girls go by.

"My favorite time in the world is sitting in airports and watching people," he said.

In other words, imagining.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is plenty good with a win last year at Greensboro, a No. 17 ranking on the money list and a memorable 61 during a duel with Woods on the same Torrey Pines North Course where this year's U.S. Open will be held.

At the par-3 sixth hole on Friday, Snedeker showed his trademark ability to think entirely out of the box, a knack he learned because "I grew up on municipal courses around Nashville. I hit it everywhere, always had fun getting up-and-down, making putts when you had to, doing crazy stuff, just having fun out there."

Snedeker put his tee ball in the worst possible place at No. 6 -- on a knob on the back right section of the green with the pin in the back left. If he putted and kept the ball on the short grass, it would probably slide all the way off the front of the green. If he putted up into the fringe, his ball might never curl back onto the short grass.

So, Snedeker invented a shot. He chose to pitch the ball off the green, up a hill, and then hope it rolled back onto the green.

"You have to learn to flip it just right. A 'yip' is pretty much what it is," Snedeker said. "I was the most nervous all day. If I messed up or took a divot [out of the green], people were going to have a field day with me. So, I had to pull it off."