steve stricker
it wasn’t postcard-perfect down the stretch, but
steve stricker’s one-stroke victory in the memorial
was certainly worth writing home about. the veteran notched his 10th pga tour title and showed
the kind of grit that for much of the season has been
displayed by luke donald and other international
players. stricker made some testy par saves on the
beefed-up closing holes at muirfield village gc and
held off fellow americans brandt Jobe and matt
kuchar. the victory lifted stricker past phil mickelson to no. 4 in the world, the highest-ranked american. “shocking,” said stricker, 44, who a year ago
was ranked second behind tiger woods. “i feel good
about where i’m at. i feel good about what i’ve done
here this week. it’s a good feather in my cap heading into the u.s. open.” with the momentum from
this win, and his deadly putting stroke, he’ll certainly
be a favorite at congressional cc. and no less an
authority than memorial host Jack nicklaus thinks
stricker has time to add a major to a résumé, a prediction unthinkable a few years ago when stricker
was struggling. “i don’t know why he hasn’t won
a major yet,” nicklaus said, “but the next couple
years, or even this year, the way he’s playing, watch
out at congressional or watch out someplace. he’ll
get there.” —Dave Shedloski
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