When it was over, he was mentioned in the same breath as Jean Van de Velde.

Brandt Snedeker won the Farmers Insurance Open in a playoff that never seemed possible when Stanley, who led by seven shots early in the final round, hit a sand wedge into the water and three-putted for triple bogey on the 18th hole.

“It’s not a hard golf hole,” Stanley said, his eyes glassy from tears. “I could probably play it a thousand times and never make an 8.”

The playoff ended on the second extra hole when Snedeker, after his 5-iron bounced off a TV tower behind the par-3 16th green that kept it from going into the canyon, chipped to 5 feet and saved par.

Stanley three-putted from 45 feet, missing a 5-footer for par.

“It’s just crazy,” Snedeker said. “To get my mind around what happened the last 30 minutes is pretty hard to do right now. My heart is out to Kyle. I feel bad for him to have to go through this.”

Crazy doesn’t begin to describe it.

Stanley was so dominant at Torrey Pines that he had a six-shot lead when he made the turn at 21-under par, just one shot from the tournament record last set by Woods in 1999 before the South Course was beefed up for the 2008 U.S. Open.

Snedeker was so certain of being the runner-up that after a tap-in birdie on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 67, he got in a cart and drove up the hill to the media center for an interview. He settled into his chair and looked over at the television, where Stanley was in the 18th fairway, 77 yards from the hole.

Stanley could have taken five shots from there and still captured his first PGA Tour event.

“I knew I needed to shoot something low,” Snedeker said, one eye on the TV. “But I just was too far back. Kyle had too big a lead.”

Just then, Stanley’s wedge landed behind the hole and zipped off the green, tumbling slowly down the bank and into the water.

“Uh-oh,” Snedeker said, before he started doing some math.

“That’s three and four,” he said referring to the wedge and the penalty shot. “He’s hitting five. How many shot-lead does he have?”

None by the time Snedeker got down to the putting green to warm up for a most unlikely playoff.

When it ended, Snedeker removed his visor and hugged his caddie, Scott Vail, who walked toward Stanley and said, “I’m sorry.”

There was not much else to say.

“He’s going to have a tough night,” Snedeker said. “There’s no way around it. But he can be better from it. The thing I hope he doesn’t do is dwell on it. I hope he moves past it pretty quick.”

Stanley is no stranger to heartache. Last summer, he was two shots ahead at the John Deere Classic until he bogeyed the final hole from a bunker, and Steve Stricker closed with two straight birdies to win.

This loss, however, put him in the wrong kind of company.

It was reminiscent of Van de Velde at Carnoustie, who made triple bogey on the last hole of the 1999 British Open and lost in a playoff; of Robert Garrigus, who made triple bogey on the last hole of the St. Jude Classic in 2010 and lost in a playoff; and even of Frank Lickliter at Torrey Pines, who three-putted from 12 feet on the 17th hole in 2001 to make triple bogey in the third playoff hole in losing to Phil Mickelson.

“I know I’ll be back,” Stanley said, pausing to allow the words to come out of his mouth. “It’s tough to swallow right now.”

For 71 holes, Stanley had shown the power, poise and polish of a rising star. He was like a machine, really, his emotions hidden behind sunglasses as he crushed one 300-yard drive after another, and then calmly rolled in par putts of 12 feet, 5 feet and 8 feet late in his round to keep his cushion.

Snedeker was in the group ahead of him and took his lone bogey of the final round on the 17th hole. That put Stanley up by four shots as he walked over to the 18th tee to play the easiest hole at Torrey Pines.

A perfect drive. A short iron to a good distance to hit the green with his wedge.

“We tried to lay it up close enough so that we wouldn’t put that much spin on it,” Stanley said. “Thought I had a pretty good shot, but just had too much spin.”

He took his drop, hit wedge that landed on the top shelf, and his 45-foot putt down into the bowl of the green stayed 3½ feet above the hole. He missed the putt to the left and had to sign for a 74.

Both players made birdie on the 18th in the playoff — Stanley went just over the back of the green with his second shot — and Snedeker closed him out on the second extra hole.

“This one I kind of backed into,” Snedeker said. “You never like winning a tournament that way. But you do like winning.”

He offered condolences, but no apologies.

“If anybody wants to see the trophy, it will be at my house the rest of my life,” Snedeker said. “It’s not a tainted win. Winning out here is hard to do. There have been a lot of guys that have had trouble closing out. And I’m sure Kyle will end up winning plenty of golf tournaments in his career. He’s got that kind of talent.”

Snedeker now has three PGA Tour victories, coming from at least five shots behind in all of them.

He also knows emotion, having first gained national attention after the 2008 Masters, where he had a roller coaster round and wound up with a 77. Speaking to the media, he buried his face in a towel and wept openly.

So to hear that Stanley’s eyes were wet, that his lip was quivering and that he could barely get out a sentence without choking on emotion, was not a surprise to Snedeker.

“I don’t think anybody should feel embarrassed about showing their emotions,” Snedeker said. “I think that’s part of who you are. That’s how much we care about it.”

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

And like last year, sale proceeds will benefit The Empty Stocking Fund.  Contributions to the Empty Stocking Fund allow it to help Piedmont Triad families provide holiday gifts for their children up to the age of 13. The Empty Stocking Fund’s mission is to empower parents and guardians of children living at or below the poverty level by providing them with an opportunity to give their children gifts during the holidays.

This year’s sale is set for Tuesday, Dec. 6 through Friday, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. The merchandise sale, featuring clothing by Fairway & Greene, will be located near the Wyndham Championship office at 416 Gallimore Dairy Road; suite D; Greensboro, N.C. 27409.

Fairway & Greene is widely acknowledged as the leader in high-end golf apparel.  After taking advantage of the deep discounts, shoppers can pay for purchases with cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.  Among the available items will be shirts, hats, outerwear, pants, shorts, socks, books, pin flags, koozies, blankets and much more.

Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the seventh oldest event on the PGA TOUR.  Tickets are available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com, at Piedmont Triad Harris Teeter locations or through the tournament office.  The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide, presenting sponsor BB&T and Premier Partners, Flow Automotive, Harris Teeter, McConnell Golf, Sunbrella^®, Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. and VF Corporation for their continued support.  Additional tournament information, including ticket packages and sponsorship information, is available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570.  For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

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Photo courtesy Stan Badz/ US PGA TOUR

The week kicked off with a visit to the pediatric unit at The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, where  Wyndham  Worldwide leaders and associates, with PGA TOUR Professionals Roland Thatcher and Troy Matteson surprised the children and their families with a “vacation day” filled with a magic show, face painting, putting practice with the pros, story time, and a special lunch. The afternoon closed with the unveiling of two brand new Nintendo Wii Fun Centers donated on behalf of Wishes by Wyndham and Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Charities that included the Kevin Harvick Foundation and PGA TOUR Wives Association received donations at events throughout the week, with First Tee of the Triad, an organization that teaches children character development through the game of golf, being named as the first Charity of Choice winner. Spectators at the tournament voted throughout the week for the favorite charity through special computer kiosks in the Wyndham Worldwide Key to Wyn tent. After the tournament trophy presentation on the 18th green, First Tee was presented with a check of $100,000 from Wishes by Wyndham. First Tee in turn, then donated $5,000 to each of the four runners up organizations: United Way, Victory Junction, Greensboro Children’s Museum, and the Autism Society of North Carolina.

As part of the tournament’s innovative social media presence, Wishes by Wyndham also donated $50,000 to each of its three signature charities, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Christel House, and Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, as patrons “checked in” at the Wyndham Championship through Facebook and FourSquare.

“Philanthropy has been an important part of the Wyndham Championship, and what makes this event so very special,” says Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. “We are so proud to support so many wonderful organizations through our tournament, and exploring new ways to spread their message to new supporters.”

The wish granting didn’t stop there, as Wyndham Worldwide and the Wyndham Championship also donated $100,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. The money donated will provide 700,000 meals to local residents in need.

“Part of the core values that drive our company is a commitment to the communities in which we live and work,” said Holmes. “We have been proud to be a part of this community during the past five years of this tournament, and felt this charity was especially important this year, as the economic downturn continues to impact so many local families in this region.”

About Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality services and products across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Worldwide encompasses approximately 7,380 franchised hotels and vacation ownership resorts with approximately 633,700 rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.8 million members, access to approximately 97,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of vacation ownership resorts serving nearly 815,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 26,000 employees globally.  For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the Company’s website at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

About the Wyndham Championship
Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the seventh oldest event on the PGA TOUR.  Additional tournament information is available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570.

Moves you to 3rd in the FedExCup standings going into The Playoffs.  Kind of talk a little bit about your emotions right now getting your first win and we’ll take a few questions.

WEBB SIMPSON:  Yeah.  I’m super-excited.  You know, I was obviously in the last group yesterday, felt a good amount of pressure and I think it showed starting out but I just stayed patient.

I was really happy the way I finished yesterday and leading into today I felt a little more pressure and I was nervous as can be, but, you know, my wife and I talked last night and this morning.  I kept a verse in my head that the Lord is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

That really calmed me down.  And I never thought that winning on the PGA TOUR would be this hard, all the pressure and everything that goes on to win a golf tournament, but I’m extremely pleased and I really love the way I finished today.

I thought my caddy and I did a really good job of coming in, choosing clubs but I just thank everyone out there who supported me and cheered for me.  It was just a fun week and I really couldn’t think of a better place to win than here in Greensboro.

MARK STEVENS:  Obviously going into The Playoffs now.  You move up to 3rd.  What’s your thoughts on your position going into The Playoffs?

WEBB SIMPSON:  Well, being in the Top-5 in the FedExCup Playoffs is awesome.  You hear all year if you’re in the Top-5 you control your own destiny and I think — it’s so fun and there’s so much of a buzz in the FedExCup Playoffs to see who is going to move up, who is going to be there in Atlanta to have a chance to win.

So I’m super-excited and obviously in a far better position to win the FedExCup than any other year I’ve had on Tour so I am excited and hopefully next week — I’ve never won so I don’t know what it’s like playing the week after a win.  I heard it’s tough but hopefully I can put this behind me and focus on the golf course next week.

MARK STEVENS:  Questions.

Q.  You talked about — were you more nervous than you thought you would be or did it feel different at all than you thought trying to get through this?

WEBB SIMPSON:  You know, I wasn’t more nervous than I thought I would be.  I knew I was going to be pretty nervous but it was just — there’s so much that can happen and there’s so much that goes on especially in the back-9, and, you know, when I made the putt on 15 I asked my caddy for the first time all day, you know, “Where do we stand?”  He said, “We’re two ahead right now.”

I knew I needed to play solid golf on the last three holes.  To birdie 16 was so huge because 17 is one of the easier holes out here.  I played pretty solid hole.

I knew I had a 3 or — yeah, 3-shot lead on 18 and I was — as soon as I hit the ball in play I knew it was probably over.  It was tough but, you know, it made things a lot easier birdieing 15 and 16.

Q.  Webb, family and friends, the walking around there you had to be seeing lots of people you knew, your family, everything out there.

You let out a big smile at 16.  Was it tough trying to focus seeing a lot of faces that you knew out there and people, family from that were walking around with you?

WEBB SIMPSON:  You know, I think one thing that helps when you’re playing in one of the last groups, there’s already so many people so everybody kind of blends in.  It probably almost be harder if it was a hundred people watching and I knew everyone of them.

But having the big crowd out there, you know, I think it helped relieve some of the pressure.  I played with John Day last year, same kind of story.  We had so many people because of him.

You know, I took away so many positives from playing in front of the home crowd.  They were great all week and they really cheered me on.

Q.  Webb, what is your first memory of this tournament?  Did you come here as a kid when you were 8, 9 years old?  When was the first time you got here?

WEBB SIMPSON:  Actually never did.  The first time I came here I was 16 and my dad is from Smithfield, North Carolina and Neal Lancaster, as you know, is from Smithfield.  I got to come caddy for him in a Wednesday Pro Am, probably the most fun 18 holes I’ve ever been a part of.  He was cracking me up the whole time.  That was over at Forest Oaks.

3rd year at Sedgefield now.  I never played here growing up but I feel like I know it pretty well now.

MARK STEVENS:  Next.

Q.  Could you talk a little bit about the Presidents Cup and whether that was a goal of yours at the beginning of the year?  It looks like you’ve moved into the Top-10.

WEBB SIMPSON:  Yeah.  You know, I’m — I don’t really set result-oriented goals but it’s something I’ve been thinking about all year, you know, top best players in the United States.

So you want to make those teams and, you know, I figured if I focus on what I know how to do in my process the things will take care of itself.

To move into the Top-10 is fun and exciting.  I’ve never been to Australia and I would love to make that team.  I played with Steve Stricker in the British Open for two rounds.  I picked his brain a lot about team formats and so hopefully I can continue to play solid and make it.

Q.  Webb, since America missed your incredible stretch yesterday at the end of the round, could you kind of take us through the last five holes if you don’t mind?

WEBB SIMPSON:  I played two really good shots on 13 to about 7 feet, made birdie.  14, I hit a good drive and had a pitching wedge and hit it about 45 feet behind the hole.  That was kind of the first bomb I made all week.

Then 15, I played two good shots.  Hit a 5-iron to about five feet, made eagle.  That was real exciting.  16, made a pretty good swing with the 8-iron to about 15 feet and made that for birdie.  And then 17, I hit driver and a lob wedge to about 15 feet again and made that.

And then 18 was kind of fun.  I hit an 8-iron to 15 feet pin high and left it on the front lip.  It would have been nice to make 18 but I didn’t want to get greedy.

Q.  Did I did hear you say, nothing out of the ordinary last night?  You picked, you know, your own dinner driving home?

WEBB SIMPSON:  Yeah.  My wife, I called her after the round.  She had already eaten in the clubhouse so I picked up the old trust fee Chipotle, I had that about four times this week, and ate it in the room with my wife.  You weren’t going to see me out anywhere.

Q.  Webb, you won with the belly putter and that’s been kind of the rave.  Have you heard some controversy about that at all or what’s your take on that?  Obviously it works for you.

WEBB SIMPSON:  Yeah.  It’s been 7 years now I’ve used the same putter and, you know, it seems like a lot more guys are using it, Keegan Bradley being the first guy to win a Major with the belly putter is encouraging to us belly putter users.

I think you’re seeing younger guys use it, more guys use it and I don’t know what it is for the other guys.  For me I just like it better.  I putt differently with it and I’ve never really found anything I like better.

Q.  Didn’t you switch in college?

WEBB SIMPSON:  I did.  I switched the fall of my freshman year.

Q.  Webb, you’re another first time winner on the PGA TOUR.  What does that say about the Tour right now?

WEBB SIMPSON:  I mean I think the Tour, I think we’ve seen it all year, I think the Tour, you’re seeing a generational change, kind of.  The winners are a lot younger, a lot more 20s or guys in their 20s are winning this year.

Seems like every other week the young guy is winning it.  It’s really cool because I think for awhile there you had the big hitters winning almost every week.  They’re still playing well but couple guys win that are in their 20s, it encourages other guys hey, if he can do it, I think I can do it.

It’s fun to be a part of.  You know, to see Keegan win last week, who is a good friend, I think he’s 25, I think it kind of shows that there’s a lot of young guys that can play.

Q.  How did you wind up with Paul on the bag and what has he done to help you this year?

WEBB SIMPSON:  Kind of a long story but the short version is I was staying at Nick Watney’s house for the Las Vegas tournament and talked with him a little bit about how my caddy, might end up going to seminary or pursuing another career.

We finished with Disney and as of that point my caddy, my old caddy, William, was going to caddy this year.  We go on a trip to the Turkey and get back and he had a voice mail with a job offer and he ended up going down to Savannah, took the job and I was left with no caddy and Nick Watney texted me that same day that William got the voice mail saying say Paul Tesori is looking for a bag, you might want to call him.

I called him five minutes after William told me.  He took another job.  We did about a ten minute interview.  Actually he did more of the interviewing than I did.  But it was — you know, we just agreed on the phone and that was it.

Q.  What do you guys do to celebrate, go to bed early with the little tyke?

WEBB SIMPSON:  Yeah, we’ll probably put him in the car.  Hopefully he’ll sleep on the way home.  Probably stop at Chipotle (laughter), get some food on the way home and try to get some sleep.  I can’t sleep normally on Sunday nights or whatever reason.  I’m sure I won’t be able to sleep much tonight.

MARK STEVENS:  Couple more?  Very good.  Okay.  One more right here.

Q.  Webb, I know that Paul said you guys played a lot of events this year.  Kind of tired, especially with your good FedExCup ranking.  You didn’t need to come here.  You picked up your first win.

Is Greensboro a place you’re going to look at as a lock-down tournament going forward?

WEBB SIMPSON:  Yeah.  You know, I love coming here.  I love, you know, Mark Brazil, Bobby Long, all the guys that are part of this tournament and it’s so easy to get here.

Obviously I’m — I live an hour and a half away.  I’ll always come back.  You know, even if I didn’t win I’ll probably always come back.  I love coming here with all friends and family around.  It’s just kind of a must on the schedule.

MARK STEVENS:  Okay.  Thanks a lot, Webb.  Good luck next week.

WEBB SIMPSON:  Thank you.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  I appreciate it.  Seemed like this afternoon took longer than all four rounds to play.  Just been a nerve-racking afternoon.

Q.  Tell me about what it’s been like after you play, talked to us after you played and just how hard it was on the golf course.  How hard was it off the golf course?

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  It was very hard because I had no control over it.  You know, you sit here and I kept checking my phone, I’m in, I was out, I was in, I was out.

I finally gave up looking.  I mean there’s nothing I can do.  I had every opportunity out there today and didn’t really take advantage of it and I guess I got lucky and got some help from some guys but, you know, it’s been the longest afternoon of my life.  I just texted somebody and said Q-School was a lot easier than waiting around this afternoon.

Q.  Was it really?

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  Much easier because I was on the course.  Just sitting around and waiting, knowing there’s nothing you can do you just drive yourself crazy and that’s what I did all afternoon.

Q.  In your rookie season, you’ve made it to The Playoffs.  What was the goal coming out of Q-School, just keeping your card?

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  Yeah.  That was my first goal was to make sure I made The Playoffs and it looks like I’m going to sneak in by the skin of my teeth.  You can’t win the FedExCup sitting at home next week.  At least I’ve given myself a chance.

Q.  Two years ago Heath went in at 124 and almost won the whole darn thing.  It can be done.

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  It’s in the back of my mind.  I saw him in the parking lot earlier.  He said, “What was it looking like?”  I threw my shoulders up, I said, “I have no idea.”  He said, “Just hang in there.”

Q.        About this season, though, you got to be awfully proud of how you ground it out for the first season.

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  I’ve played a lot better than I scored every week.  I don’t know how many cuts I’ve missed by one shot.  I know it’s been a bunch.  I missed Greenbrier and Reno by a shot and honestly probably the four bet putts I hit all year were on the last two holes of each tournament.

So, you know, I played well.  I haven’t gotten the results I’ve been looking for but, you know, things can change.  Still got some tournaments left.

Q.  Good luck to you.  Thanks so much for the time.

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  Thank you.  I appreciate it.

Q.  Kind of take me through the afternoon.  Once you finished did I hear you say you went out and followed Tommy?

WILLIAM MCGIRT:  Yes, from 6 through 11.  I kind of thought it was going to rain.  I just started coming back towards the clubhouse and stopped to talk to Mickey Bradley a little bit.

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ERNIE ELS:  Yeah.  Yeah.  After bogeying the first hole, that really set me back.  Then you just — you don’t want to mess up too badly.  It’s a terrible way to feel on the golf course because you know you want to try and contend but you also don’t want to screw up.  It’s a terrible feeling to play.  It’s almost like going back to Q-School.

Q.  You felt like you were kind of playing defense instead of being able to attack?

ERNIE ELS:  You know, some of the flags were a little tough to get to.  I just felt, you know — even yesterday the back-9 I felt like I lost my momentum and never really regained it and kind of playing catch up.  Wasn’t enjoyable.

Q.  But you’re in.

ERNIE ELS:  Yeah, I see that.  I’m in.  I thought I had to make that putt on last to get in so, you know, you don’t know in these playoffs.  It’s all screwed up.

Q.  You were on the other end of it last year at the top.  Maybe this is the way to go at it.

ERNIE ELS:  Yeah.  I got to play good golf, though.  I played really good the first few days.  I would like to get that back.

Q.  What do you take into next week?

ERNIE ELS:  I’m playing so I’ve got another shot at it.  Kind of like a nightmare hopefully play better.

Good luck to you.  Thanks for the time.

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JUSTIN LEONARD:  Yeah.  I didn’t pay too much attention.  I kind of figured I had to make, make another birdie in the last three holes and, you know, had good looks at it 16, 17, I hit two good putts.

But, you know, to try and wait until this week to make it through is just — you know, I mean, come on.  I had 25 other weeks to play like this.

Q.  And yet again, you almost got it done.  You give yourself a little credit for that.

JUSTIN LEONARD:  Yeah.  You know, I got a few weeks off now and I’ll work on it.

Q.  You going to play some in the fall, do you think?

JUSTIN LEONARD:  Yeah.  I’m going to play three of them, I think.

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GEORGE MCNEILL:  Honestly, I thought it was going to be a lot lower.  It still could be.  Obviously not everybody is finished yet so — I was just trying to play as well as I could.  I can only control myself.  I can’t control what everybody else does.  Very happy with the way I hit it, the way I played, the way I putted.  Everything was nice today.

Yesterday I struggled a little bit with my ball striking but today I kind of — I fixed it and, you know, I saw what happened.

Q.  Take us through 18 there.  First of all, you know the situation at that point and that putt.

GEORGE MCNEILL:  I think I birdied 17 to tie for the lead.  I didn’t know if I was still tied for the lead or not.  I didn’t pay attention to the leaderboard until I was on 18.  I laid up off the tee basically to make sure I hit it in the fairway and then hit a good shot, got caught by the wind, ended up short of the green but I still had a pretty good look at it.  Obviously gave it a pretty good try.

It didn’t go in and now I’m sitting here talking to y’all.

Q.  This situation, how nice is it to sort of be able to sit back now and wait and see what happens?

GEORGE MCNEILL:  I’m glad I’m in the position I am.  Again, like I said earlier, I don’t think it’s going to be enough but I’m glad I’m finished.  I played as well as I could.  It’s up to them now.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports.