There are a lot of negative statements about finishing in second place: if you're not first you're last... it's like kissing your sister... second place is the first loser...

Truth is, its not nearly as bad as some make it out to be. The pay day is good and in golf, it's definitive evidence that you're game is ripe for winning.

Just ask Brendt Snedeker.

This year, he's already finished second twice and when the names ahead of you on the leaderboard read Mickelson and Woods, there's no shame in second place. It's just one of those growing pains that come in ascending to the top of the golf game today.

It also makes winning feel a little bit sweeter when the time comes.

Snedeker, the hottest golfer  on the PGA Tour today, had that feeling on Sunday at Pebble Beach.

When you've played 16 of your last 17 rounds in the 60s, it's only going to be so long before you're holding a trophy on the 18th green. Snedeker rolled to a two shot win (-19) over Chris Kirk. He began the day tied with Kirk but after starting the final round five under thru the first seven hole, Sunday was mostly a victory lap with a breath taking view.

The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am isnt the most star studded events on the Tour, unless you count Bill Murray and other Hollywood players, but in this tournament it's important to conquer the real star of the show: Pebble Beach.

If the course wasn't hard enough already, trying to keep your focus when there is so much beautiful scenery to look at has to be a little tough at times. Now, most pros rise to that level because of their ability to lock in and concentrate, but I've got to believe it can be a little distracting at times or could become a bigger distraction when you've got a lead and are feeling comfortable. 

None of that mattered for Snedeker, though. He played brilliantly and has started 2013 almost as good as he ended 2012: played in his first Ryder Cup, won the TOUR Championship, won the FedEx Cup and collected a cool $10 million for that last achievement. 

In 2013 alone he's got  one win, two runner-ups, one third place finish and finished in the Top 25 in all five of the tournaments he's played so far. 

Most guys won't get those kinds of results in a full calendar year so to say this is shaping up to be a very special year for Snedeker is an understatement. 

Two days ago, I was on the phone with my dad talking about golf and he asked me who I thought was going to have a great year. I told him I thought Woods would bounce back a little more than last year, Rory McIlroy would have a good year but not as good as 2012, to keep an eye on Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell and Webb Simpson and that, ultiimately, I really thought it was wide open.

I should have told him Brandt Snedeker. 

In 2012, we’ve seen a moustached man named Johnson Wagner win a tournament. We’ve seen Tiger Woods finish third overseas and strong signs that he’s on the winning track once again. Stever Stricker, Mark Wilson, Brandt Snedeker and Kyle Stanley have all claimed trophies.

What we have yet to see is some celebrity pairings that will thrust the golf world into the national spotlight should one of the A-D lister’s win while piggy-backing a professional golfer. Luckily, the time has come for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Nothing was sweeter than seeing Bill Murray claim a trophy alongside D.A. Points. This year, look forward to seeing names such as: Justin Timberlake, George Lopez, Don Cheadle, Chris O’Donnell, Chris Berman, Bill Murray, and Tony Romo. Not a bad list, but depending on your tastes, there is potential to be turned off by some of these entrants.

I’m looking forward to seeing Timberlake, Romo and Murray out there, but could really care less for Chris Berman. Don’t we get enough of him on ESPN? It may sound crazy, but I saw Berman at the Pro Football Hall of Fame a few years ago and heard him talk in casual conversation and can report that, yes, he does always talk like that. Timberlake and Romo are welcome additions because we know they can golf.

The Romo/Woods pairing should be a fun one to watch even though neither has had much success lately. Perhaps their recent stints of poor play can combine and bring excellence. You know, that whole two wrongs make a right deal… or, is it two wrongs don’t make a right? I’ll just go with the first because that’s what I want to believe. Romo will certainly get some heat from Cowboy haters and I’d be extremely happy to hear some N*Sync trash talk directed at Timberlake, but my guess is none of that will air on TV.

I’ve got Romo/Woods to win this thing. Who you got?

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