Stricker strikes again as two late birdies seal deal
Stricker, who turns 45 next month, captured a $1.12 million top prize in the battle of last year’s winners, which was without 2011 Major champions Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and South African Charl Schwartzel.
Stricker finished on 23 under par (269) to defeat Scotland’s Martin Laird by three strokes, with Americans Jonathan Byrd and Webb Simpson sharing third on 273. South Korean KJ Choi and American Harrison Frazar shared fifth on 277.
“It was tough,” Stricker said. “I never let up but it’s always tough trying to win. It’s even tougher playing with a lead like I had. In the end I got the ball in the hole.”
Stricker, the only player to win multiple titles in each of the past three US PGA seasons, took the 12th title of his career, his first since capturing his third consecutive John Deere Classic crown last July.
The triumph was his eighth in the past 32 months and moved him up to fifth in the world rankings, the highest spot of any American.
Stricker, who began the day with a five-stroke edge, opened with five pars before his lone bogey at the par-four sixth, having missed solid birdie chances while rivals closed the gap.
“I felt it kind of slipping away but I was patient — frustrated — but patient,” Stricker said.
“I told myself if I could get a couple back by the turn I would be all right.”
Stricker responded with birdies at the par-three eighth, par-five ninth and par-four 12th to rebuild his confidence, reaching the 16th tee with a two-stroke lead.
“That birdie at eight calmed me down quite a bit,” he said.
Striker birdied 16 and then made sure with another on the last to see off the challenge of defending champion Byrd, Laird and Simpson.
The new champion also said he has fully recovered from a neck injury that nagged him late last season and his game is ahead of where it would normally be so early in a season.
“I feel like I’m a little further along than normal and I played that way this week,” he said.
