Steve Stricker celebrates 45th birthday with a victory over Louis Oosthuizen - Golf News
Steve Stricker celebrated his 45th birthday with a one-up victory through a 20-feet birdie-putt on the par-four 18th in the second round of the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship on Thursday, February 23,2012.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who dominated most of the match at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, missed a 12-feet birdie putt on the final hole to end his journey in the first WGC of the year.
According to Stricker, his father once told him that the player, who makes the putt prior to the other, usually wins.
Therefore, he was thinking the same while playing his last hole and succeeded against his opponent.
He added by saying that there was plenty of movement in his putt, as the ball moved around three to four feet in total to reach the hole.
"It was a big swinger to the right. I thought I lost a little speed there right at the end ... and it was going to miss on the low side, but it just hung in there nicely," Stricker said.
Stricker looked excited because of a strong comeback he made on the final seven holes to offset Oosthuizen’s lead and win the match.
"It really wasn't back and forth until the end," Stricker said. "He had the lead on me all day long, so I was scratching from behind all day. We each gave each other a couple of holes here and there. I am just lucky to be moving on really. It didn't look
too good for a while".
He will now be seen contending against his compatriot, Hunter Mahan, who defeated Y.E. Yang 5&3, in the third round of the event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain – Marana, Arizona on Friday.
“Hunter's a good match play player,” Stricker said. “He is in every hole, he doesn't hit it crooked. His all-around game is good”.
Both the players had been part of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup in the past, representing the United States team.
Therefore, both the players are well aware of each other’s game. Moreover, they are also good friends, as they spend considerable time together.
Stricker said that it will be a tough competition to defeat his close friend. Therefore, his main focus will be on putting, keeping aside his friendship for a day and beat him to excel in the tournament.
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