If you're looking for a story line, Brandt Snedeker is your man.

Brandt Snedeker scratches his head after a bogey at No. 11. Three bogeys at Amen Corner threatened to wreck his round, but he rebounded. (Kendrick Brinson/Staff)

Want a heartwarming tale about an all-American boy making good? See Snedeker, who grew up in Nashville, Tenn., and became an All-American at his hometown university, Vanderbilt, before winning PGA Rookie of the Year in 2007.

Looking for a Cinderella story about a scrappy underdog? See Snedeker hold on to a lead over Tiger Woods through three rounds of the Masters Tournament.

Interested to see someone who has the world in his hands deal with adversity, then rise from the ashes? See Snedeker turn a one-stroke third-round lead into a three-stroke deficit on Amen Corner, only to birdie three of his last five holes and earn a spot in today's final pairing.

The only thing Snedeker is missing is the fairy tale ending where he wins the Masters and lives happily ever after. To do that, he'll have to continue playing at the level that allowed him to temporarily take the tournament lead and overcome consecutive bogeys on Nos. 11, 12 and 13.

"I think I figured out why they call it Amen Corner," said Snedeker, who shot 70 on Saturday and is two strokes behind playing partner and tournament leader Trevor Immelman.

"I didn't really hit a bad shot, didn't really feel disgusted with myself afterwards," he said. "I went through the same process I've always gone through, and they just didn't come off the way they're supposed to.

"I tried to minimize my mistakes and didn't make any double bogeys, and I told myself I was playing great golf and to keep doing it."

Snedeker was great on his first 10 holes, playing a bogey-free round. Then he came to Amen Corner. The way Snedeker fell there and rose again on Nos. 14 and 15, those five holes could easily be called Roller Coaster Alley.

Trailing Immelman by three strokes, Snedeker approached the 14th tee with his chance to win a green jacket slipping away.

"It was tough. The 14th tee shot was the most important shot of the day, because if I hit a bad shot there, the wheels could have easily come off," Snedeker said. "And I stood up there and hit a great shot. ... After that, I got things going."

Snedeker re-established himself as a legitimate contender when he hit his approach shot on No. 15 to set up his birdie.

"I consider that the hardest 90-yard shot in golf," he said.

"I knew the ramifications of it were my tournament."

If that is the case, Snedeker should be in good shape today. His weekend playing partner thinks so.

"I wasn't surprised he came back; he's a fantastic player. ... I think the two of us will have a great time (today)," Immelman said.

After overcoming his collapse at Amen Corner, nothing seems to faze Snedeker. Not even:

- The threat of 25-mph gusts of wind today: "I think it's great. I think you're going to identify the player who's playing the best. ... The tougher the conditions, the better."

- Woods looming on the leaderboard: "The guy I'm most concerned with right now is Trevor Immelman. Trevor Immelman is leading the golf tournament. ... I'm sure Tiger is going to be there somewhere in the back nine tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be doing it. So I'll worry about that when it comes."

- The possibility of winning his first major championship: "It's not going to change who I am. It's not going to change anything about me."

For all of these reasons, Snedeker offers a fresh spin on many familiar stories. It's his refreshing approach that will make today's final pairing compelling, even without a certain four-time champion in it. And it's why Johnson Wagner holds Snedeker in such high regard.

"He knows he belongs here," Wagner said.

"He's one of a kind, just a great guy to hang out with. If you ever get the chance to have a couple beers with him, it's a blast."

Reach Noah Feit at (706) 823-3349 or noah.feit@augustachronicle.com.