It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Steve Stricker would win the 2019 U.S. Senior Open on Sunday.
He took a six shot lead to the final 18 at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course and that’s too many to spot a steady stick like Stricker.
It turned into one long afternoon snooze-fest.
The only thing in doubt would be who might finish second — Jerry Kelly or David Toms?
By day’s end, Stricker did what he was supposed to do. He plodded his way around the course that was a scoring haven for three days but not so much on Sunday. Stricker’s closing 69 left him where he started the sleepy day — six in front. He finished 19-under, six clear of Kelly and Toms, who tied for second at 13-under.
Toms closed with 68, Kelly 69.
No one ever threatened Stricker, who picked up his second senior major of the season.
“It was a long week. A tough day today,” Stricker said afterward. “When you go out with that kind of lead, you know, like I said, you have everything to lose kind of thing. So it was a tough day. It was tough to try to battle through all the emotions of trying to hold on to win. And a 3:25 tee-off time, so you’ve got all this time in the morning to sit around and think about it, which makes for a hard, hard day. But very rewarding after you do it and get it done. I played some great golf this week, and today was kind of rely on my short game a little bit. But I did some good things when I had to.”
