Brandt Snedeker in contention after Saturday surge at Rocket Mortgage Classic

DETROIT – Given the locale, Brandt Snedeker understands why he wasn’t showered with congratulations in the aftermath of his alma mater’s victory in the College World Series.

“We are surrounded by University of Michigan fans here,” said Snedeker, who watched every pitch in the deciding game of Vanderbilt’s victory over the Wolverines. He even Tweeted out his support for the Commodores, with a clever reference “to being behind enemy lines.”

It was all good fun, but Snedeker – who made the cut on the number at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, then shot a third-round 7-under 65 to roar up the leaderboard – did confirm that he was blown away by what has greeted him here at Detroit Golf Club: Fan appreciation.

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“I have been showered with ‘Thank you for coming to Detroit’ all week. Literally, hundreds of times every day, the appreciation is unheard of,” said Snedeker. “The way they have embraced this tournament is incredible.”

The Rocket Mortgage Classic marks the first time a PGA TOUR tournament has ever been held in Detroit and it’s the first event in the area since 2009. Clearly, the desire to be part of it was enormous; corporate hospitality sold our quickly and so, too, did tickets. As a PGA TOUR member, Snedeker felt the love. But as a guy who is invested in a Korn Ferry Tour event in his hometown, the Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation, he identifies with the task that was pulled off here.

“A lot of power to them. It takes a lot of different people to do this,” said Snedeker. “You have to have support from people at the host club, people in the community, people with the title sponsor – and the support has to be 100 percent. If not, it would show.”

Snedeker, who began Round 3 in a tie for 58th, put together a bogey-free effort that featured a chip-in eagle at the par-5 seventh. As he signed his card, he was only two off the clubhouse lead, but he knew that the front-runners were just going out and plenty of birdies awaited. “I just hope to be within four or five at the end of the day,” he said.

Whether that happened or not, Snedeker would still be happy, in large part because of a warm homecoming here for the PGA TOUR.

“I can’t think of a better start to a new event that I’ve ever seen,” he said.