Steve Stricker remains in contention at the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Defending champion, Steve Stricker, fired a six-under par 67, in the second round of the weather-shortened Hyundai Tournament of Champions, to take the second position on the leaderboard, on Monday, January 7, 2013.
The tournament is being staged at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, offering a total prize fund of US$5.7 million, to the participants.
The tournament was scheduled to start on Friday last week. However, the inclement weather on day one and day two did not allow the officials to stage the first two rounds.
As a result, the players started playing the first round on Sunday, and the second round was held on Monday. The tournament officials also decided to shorten the event to 54 holes.
Stricker, who carded a two-under par 71 in the opening round, made a poor start on day two by conceding a bogey on the first hole that he played – he started on the back nine of the course.
He then made a strong comeback by draining three birdie putts in a row, starting from the 13th hole. Thereafter, he recorded an amazing eagle putt on the 18th hole, to reach the turn in four under.
The front nine of the course also witnessed him adding two birdies to his scorecard, which came on the fifth and the sixth hole.
At the end of the day, he found himself settled three strokes behind the pace set by Dustin Johnson, at an 11-under par 135.
Stricker now plans to make a strong charge on the leaderboard in the final round, in a bid to successfully defend his title in Kapalua.
Talking to the reporters after completing his round, he revealed that he was having pain in his back, which created difficulties for him to play shots on the course. In the meantime, he also expressed his pleasure in playing well throughout the day.
“It felt as crappy on the first hole as the last hole,” Stricker said. “You've just got to go out and play and play your hardest and see what happens. It's tough to win in front. We've got really nothing to lose tomorrow and it makes it a little bit easier for us, but tougher on him”.
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