Stricker survives Colonial playoff
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/06/2009 (6281 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Steve Stricker has all sorts of top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. Now he has the best one, too.
Stricker birdied the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Tim Clark and Steve Marino and win the Crowne Plaza Invitational on Sunday. It was his first title after being second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh at other tournaments this year.
When the winning putt fell, Stricker pumped his fist twice, then gave a little punch. It was pure relief.
“This means a lot,” he told CBS from the green, his voice cracking and the gallery chanting his last name. “It’s tough to win out there. Feel fortunate any time you get a chance to.”
Clark came in having won the most money (US$12.7 million) without winning a tournament in PGA Tour history. His 0-for-183 skid seemed likely to end when he held a two-stroke lead with five holes left to play. He was tied for the tournament record and was the most accurate driver of the week.
But he couldn’t keep it up. His next tee shot landed in the rough, as did his drive on No. 18. He took bogeys on both holes, coming up short on his par putt on the final hole to force the playoff — the third in four years at Colonial.
On the first extra hole, Clark put his approach seven feet from the cup. Stricker and Marino missed their birdie tries, so the 33-year-old South African had another great chance at victory. He got the distance right this time but rolled it just to the left of the cup. With his arms still on his belly putter, he dropped his head in disbelief.
On the second hole, Stricker put his approach within four feet and Clark almost matched it — but his approach hit the stick and rolled more than 20 feet away. He missed his birdie try and Stricker made his for his fifth career victory.
— The Associated Press
