SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Steve Stricker ended a four-hole playoff with a shot out of the tough that banged into the pin and arrange a tap-in birdie Sunday, his third straight Sanford Worldwide victory and his first PGA Tour Champions title of the 12 months.
Stricker had a two-shot lead till a three-putt bogey on the 18th gap at Minnehaha Nation Membership for a 3-under 67. Richard Inexperienced made a 12-foot birdie putt within the remaining group for a 69 to pressure additional holes.
Stricker twice needed to work onerous for par on the par-4 18th within the playoff, whereas Inexperienced narrowly missed birdie possibilities. They each made par on the par-3 tenth earlier than returning to the 18th once more.
Stricker pulled his 3-wood into deep tough and hammered a wedge that landed within the entrance and raced up the steep slope, smacking the pin within the center and settling 2 ft away. Inexperienced missed his 8-foot birdie putt and Stricker tapped in for one more Sanford Worldwide title.
He was extra emotional than normal, profitable for the primary time since his father died in January. That partially explains why Stricker, who received six occasions on the PGA Tour Champions a 12 months in the past, needed to wait so lengthy for his first considered one of 2024.
“I used to be attempting to win one so unhealthy,” Stricker mentioned. “I owe him every part. We miss quite a bit. He was the man who confirmed me the sport, learn how to act on the course learn how to be knowledgeable. I used to be placing some additional strain on myself to win one and dedicate one to him.”
Minnehaha was the appropriate spot. Stricker now has 4 victories on the Sanford Worldwide, and he grew to become the primary participant to win a event three straight occasions on the PGA Tour Champions and the PGA Tour (John Deere Basic from 2009 by means of 2011).
Stricker confirmed loads of nerves down the stretch. He was tied with Inexperienced till Stricker, taking part in one group forward, acquired up-and-down for birdie on the reachable par-4 fifteenth and Inexperienced three-putted for bogey on the 14th.
Stricker wasted one probability to place it away by lacking an 8-foot birdie putt on the sixteenth. However he saved par with a 15-foot putt on the seventeenth to maintain his two-shot lead. On the closing gap, he got here up nicely wanting the steep ridge and three-putted, lacking a 7-foot par putt.
He needed to hook a shot round a tree — simply barely — to make par on the 18th on the primary playoff gap. He needed to two-putt from about 75 ft up the slope on the second additional gap. After which he hit a shot off the pin for the winner.
“They’re all onerous,” Stricker mentioned.
