Golf World Monday - January 10, 2012

� Winner;steve stricker opened the 2012 pga tour season with his 12th career win, a three-shot victory over martin laird at the hyundai tournament of champions at kapalua resort’s plantation course. after a slow start, stricker,

44, finished with a four-under 69 monday for a

23-under 269 total. he held a five-shot lead entering the final round and almost gave it all back early. laird, Jonathan byrd and webb simpson cut the lead to two by going three under on the first five holes and stricker gave another back with a bogey on no. 6. but it was his last mistake of the day,

as five birdies on the final 12 holes secured his first victory in hawaii.

�note Worthy;kevin na finished the second round with eagles on the 17th and 18th holes, the first time that has happened at kapalua. … pga champion keegan bradley chipped in from 73 yards for eagle at the par- 4 16th monday. … the win moves stricker to fifth on the world ranking.

pga;tour;// hyundai;tournament;of;champions
slow;start,;big;finish;for;stricker;in;hawaii

�key;holes stricker played kapalua’s final four holes in 13 under for the week, including four birdies in sunday’s third round. laird was seven under on the quartet for the week.