Steve Stricker was ready to write a storybook finish to his first start on the Champions Tour Sunday then golf got in the way.
Stricker looked like the over-50 world-beater everyone figured he’d be for the first 36 holes at the Tucson Conquistador Classic. He shot 67-63 at Tucson National, played the first 36 holes without dropping a shot to par.
Things got real in a hurry during Sunday’s final round when Stricker bogeyed his first hole out of the box then found birdies hard to come by.
Stricker was paired with Tom Lehman, who was making just his second start after undergoing elbow surgery last November.
Stricker came to life with three straight birdies to start the back nine then added another at the 15th and found himself with a two-shot lead going into the 16th hole.
Then it started to fall apart for the Champions Tour rookie.
Stricker under-clubbed at the long par three 16th, missed a five-footer for par and watched Lehman hole a 20-footer for birdie to tie it up with two to play. Both players traded birdies at the easy par five 17th then Stricker would make his biggest mistake at 18.
A three-wood off the tee went too far left, caught the downslope of the firm fairway and found water. Another bogey and a routine par by Lehman gave victory to the former Open Champion. Lehman caught Stricker with a closing 66.
“I knew I had to make some birdies,” Lehman said. “Steve is such a great player. His tee shot at 18 gave me an opening.”
Lehman finished 20-under par to edge Stricker by a shot and the ever-present Bernhard Langer took solo third at 15-under.
