Steve Stricker has made Naples in his winter home but he and wife Nicki are saying good-bye after selling their Florida property.
Stricker came through with a memorable farewell Sunday at Tiburon Golf Club with a one-shot victory in the Chubb Classic.
“I knew there was a low score out there — I was hoping it would be me,” Stricker said after he closed with a second straight 67 and a 16-under par total, one shot better than Robert Karlsson and Monday qualifier Alex Cejka. Karlsson and Cejka stood on the 18th tee, two shots behind Stricker and needed eagles to tie. Neither could manage a three but both closed with birdies to finish tied for second at 15-under par.
Stricker, the 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, three-putted for par at the par five 15th, keeping things tense. “I could have made it a little easier on myself, for sure,” Stricker said afterward. “I knew exactly where I stood. I told Nicki (wife and caddie) when we were going down no. 14, I said ‘Let’s get two out of these next three,’ and I hit it in there at 14 and 15 and missed them both and it it in there at 16 but if I could have made a couple more putts, it would have been a bit easier.”
It was Stricker’s sixth win in 29 Champions Tour events but still plays the regular Tour and has made three cuts with one top-10 in eight starts.
“It kind of goes week to week,” Stricker said of his decision-making regarding what events to play. “I enjoy playing out here. Competition is great. You have to play well to win. But I also still enjoy playing on the regular tour. I’ve had a couple good showings this year so far. If I could get the putter going a little bit, my ball-striking is probably as good as it’s been when I was playing my best out on the regular tour.
“If I can get that putter going, I’ll probably play out on the big tour and see if I can’t make the playoffs (FedEx Cup) one more time.”
Peter Uihlein Wins In Las Vegas:
Peter Uihlein is on his way back to the PGA Tour. He took a big step Sunday with a closing 69 and a four-shot victory at the MGM Resorts Championship outside Las Vegas.
Uihlein finished at 16-under par at the Paiute Golf Resort, four clear of David Lipsky (75) and Jamie Lovemark (72).
Lipsky, who has been a regular on the European Tour, is looking to work his way onto the PGA Tour.
4 Comments
baxter cepeda
Good thing stricker won at home because You would think harbor town is arguably the best track for him on the big tour.
Steve’s overall game does look the same. Why not keep playing the pga tour?
Question is if Steve is gonna spend his winters hitting balls in his frozen container again? It worked before.
Tom Edrington
Stricks isn’t making as many putts as he used to, par for the course once you pass 50.
baxter cepeda
who does ?
But even a diminished stricker flat stick is still very solid on the greens.
Tom Edrington
I saw him three-putt 15, NEVER saw that coming….