SILVIS, Ill. ? Steve Stricker and the PGA Tour’s Memorial trophy made it home from Dublin, Ohio, to Madison, Wis., by 10:30 p.m. Sunday evening.
By Allan Henry, US Presswire
Steve Stricker wins the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, and on Monday he travels to Illinois to talk about the John Deere Classic.
By Allan Henry, US Presswire Steve Stricker wins the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, and on Monday he travels to Illinois to talk about the John Deere Classic.
He was back on the road by 6:30 a.m. Monday, making the three-hour-plus drive to TPC at Deere Run to make an appearance at John Deere Classic media day.
“It didn’t cross my mind not to come,” Stricker said.
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Billboards scattered across the Quad Cites tell the defining story line of next month’s tournament, and the reason for Stricker’s early morning drive.
“Steve Shoots For History,” they tell the wandering eye.
Stricker, whose Memorial victory Sunday was the 10th of his career, is trying to become the first player to win the same PGA Tour event three years in a row since Tiger Woods at the Bridgestone Invitational from 2005-07.
The billboard caught Stricker’s attention as he drove into town Monday.
“He joked about it,” said Stricker’s 12-year-old daughter, Bobbi, who made the trip with her father. “He said, ‘Who is that lovely man up there?’ “
The chance at PGA Tour history will create buzz.
“It would be something,” Deere tournament chairman Clair Peterson said. “I would love it, by the way.”
Stricker has dominated the TPC at Deere Run layout. He’s played it in a collective 46 under par during his back-to-back victories. He’s shot 60, 61, 62 and 64 on the par-71 layout over his last two appearances, averaging 65.25 strokes per round.The first round of Stricker’s title defense last year was one of the most scintillating days in tournament history.
Paul Goydos became the fifth player in PGA Tour history to shoot 59 in the morning. Stricker came back in the afternoon and whittled away most of Goydos’ advantage, shooting 60.
“I think it had to feel weird for him to shoot 59 and only lead by one,” Stricker said. “For me it was, ‘OK, I’m right back in it.’ I’m sure he was thinking, ‘Holy Cow, I shot 59 and I only have a one-shot lead.’ I would have to think it was harder for him to swallow than it was for me.”
There have been 20 three-peats in the history of the PGA Tour.
“It’s difficult to repeat, let alone put three of them together,” Stricker said. “I think the expectation level is high when you win a tournament and come back.”
Stricker also realizes that a defender can play great golf and still not win.
“It’s a hard thing to do, there’s a ton of great players,” Stricker said. “Somebody can get hot and go low. And you may not even have a chance, even if you do play well. A lot of things have to fall into place to win once, let alone two or three.”Stricker is now the highest-ranked American on the World Golf Rankings, and fourth overall.
“I want to text Tiger and say, ‘Where are you, what happened?’ ” Stricker said. “But I haven’t got the courage to do that yet.”
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