COOLUM, Australia (AP) -Brandt Snedeker cashed checks worth $2.8 million, won a PGA Tour event and finished in the top 10 in five other tournaments.
All in his rookie season.
The 26-year-old from Nashville, Tenn., is a favorite for the tour's rookie of the year award. He's the highest first-year player on the money list (17th) and the FedEx Cup points standings (20th).
Not that he's heard anything one way or the other.
"I have no clue, I thought it would have happened by now," Snedeker said at the Australian PGA Championship. "I keep hearing different dates, and hopefully before too long we'll hear. I think I've won it but I'm not 100 percent sure until it comes out."
Snedeker didn't get a chance to vote. He spent two weeks in Japan after an eight-week layoff following the Tour Championship. After the Australian PGA Championship, which starts Thursday, he'll head to the Australian Open in Sydney.
"I didn't get (the rookie award balloting) before I came out," Snedeker said. "I'm hoping my fellow tour players will eke me in. It would be a great honor."
And if he loses by one vote?
"I'm sure I'll be kicking myself later," he said, laughing.
Snedeker celebrates his 27th birthday on Saturday - when he hopes to be playing with Adam Scott, Rory Sabbatini, defending champion Nick O'Hern and Stuart Appleby on a golf course that reminds him of manicured Florida layouts.
Last year, O'Hern holed out from a greenside bunker to beat two-time champion Peter Lonard on the fourth hole of a playoff.
O'Hern is happy to see Snedeker at the tournament.
"It's fantastic - the more international players we can get down here, obviously the better," O'Hern said. "I think the public will see guys they haven't seen before, and I'm sure by the end of the week they'll remember who they are."
