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Snedeker to repay Mahan's new arrival with gifts

ESPN staff
July 29, 2013
Brandt Snedeker is planning a big present for Zoe Mahan © Getty Images
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Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker has promised to buy a nice present for Hunter Mahan's newborn daughter, after the baby's unexpected birth led her father to withdraw from the tournament.

Mahan, fresh from contending at the Open Championship, held a two-shot lead in Canada when wife Kandi went into early labour - leading the Texan to immediately withdraw from the tournament.

Snedeker held off Dustin Johnson to claim the win - rising one place to world No. 7 in the process.

"Zoe will be getting a very nice baby gift from me," said Snedeker. "I can't thank Kandi (Mahan, Hunter's wife) enough for going into labour early, otherwise I don't know if I'd be sitting here if she hadn't.

"But that is a way more important thing than a golf tournament. I missed a golf tournament when my first was born and it was the best decision I ever made."

Johnson looked to be on course for victory until the 17th, when a wild drive out of bounds precipitated a triple-bogey that left him with no chance of recovery.

"I was playing really well," Johnson said. "Really confident, swinging the driver really good. So you know, it's a driver hole for me, and I just blocked it a little bit.

"Made a poor swing. ... Not too happy, but I felt really good with my golf game. ... It's nothing, nothing to worry about. I'll go get them next weekend."

World Rankings: 1. Tiger Woods (USA), 2. Phil Mickelson (USA), 3. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 4. Justin Rose (ENG), 5. Adam Scott (AUS), 6. Matt Kuchar (USA), 7. Brandt Snedeker (USA), 8. Graeme McDowell (NIR), 9. Luke Donald (ENG), 10. Lee Westwood (ENG), 11. Steve Stricker (USA), 12. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), 13. Charl Schwartzel (RSA), 14. Ernie Els (RSA), 15. Ian Poulter (ENG), 16. Sergio Garcia (ESP), 17. Keegan Bradley (USA), 18. Bubba Watson (USA), 19. Henrik Stenson (SWE), 20. Jason Day (AUS).

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