Steve Stricker surges to 5th on the back of Tournament of Champions victory - Golf News
Steve Stricker clinched his 12th PGA Tour victory at the season-opening Tournament of Champions and surged to the fifth position in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Stricker finished four-under 69 to finish three shots ahead of the runner-up, Martin Laird, at the end of the final round. He posted a dazzling 23-under total of 269.
He started the round with confidence. However, at one stage, he seemed to falter and lose his grip on the game, but he bounced back with his usual form.
“I played really steady today,” Stricker said after booking his place at Kapalua for next year. “I was proud the way I hit the ball, not so proud of the way I putted it but proud the way I hit it”.
While entering the final round of the tournament, Stricker had a five-stroke lead, which narrowed to only one on the front nine.
However, he regained his momentum yet again and increased the lead with five birdies on the last 11 holes he played.
While he was being embraced by his family after the win, he was asked to comment about his performance. He replied by saying that it was a tough competition on the course. However, he did not let himself up the whole day.
"It's always tough trying to win and it's even tougher when you have a lead like I had,” he said.
“I played good though. Overall I am very proud of what I did today and this week. And it's always cool to get a hug from your family walking off after you win," he added.
Martin Laird was alone on the second position after birdying five times on the final seven holes. He shot a six-under par 67 to pile up an overall 20-under 272 in the limited field of champions only tournament.
After a superb performance in the event, he moved from the 47th position to the 33rd placet in the Official World Golf Rankings.
American players, Webb Simpson and Jonathan Byrd, shared the third position on the leaderboard. They had a single stroke margin against Korea’s K.J. Choi and another American, Harrison Frazar, who tied for the fifth spot in the event.
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