NAPLES, Fla. — Steve Stricker figured somebody may come out of the pack with a low rating and win the Chubb Traditional on Sunday, and it turned out to be him.
Stricker closed with a 5-under 67, taking management with a wedge into three toes for birdie on the 16th gap. That carried him to a one-shot victory in Naples, the place the 54-year-old from Wisconsin makes his winter house.
The U.S. Ryder Cup captain received for the sixth time on the PGA Tour Champions, his first title for the reason that U.S. Senior Open in the summertime of 2019.
“I felt like somebody may shoot a low quantity, and I hoped it could be me,” Stricker stated. “There’s numerous quick irons on this course in the event you put it in play.”
Robert Karlsson of Sweden, who shared the 36-hole lead with Fred Couples, and Monday qualifier Alex Cejka of Germany every made birdie on the ultimate gap to tie for second.
Cejka is assured of moving into the following open Champions occasion with out qualifying.
Couples was nonetheless within the combine till his tee shot on the par-5 15th sailed proper into the bushes, resulting in a penalty drop and a bogey on a gap the place birdie would have tied him for the lead. He made pars the remainder of the way in which for a 71 to tie for sixth.
Stricker began one shot behind at Tiburon Golf Membership and ran off three birdies on the entrance 9 of the Black course to surge forward. He stretched his result in three pictures earlier than a group of gamers started to creep nearer.
Stricker had an opportunity to place it away earlier till catching the lip on an Eight-foot birdie putt on the 14th. He had an extended eagle putt on the 15th that he left about 6 toes quick, and he pulled that one badly to accept par.
That opened the door for others within the group behind, explicit with two par 5s over the ultimate 4 holes. Stricker gave himself a much bigger cushion along with his wedge that landed about 12 toes wanting the opening on the 16th and rolled out to three toes.
“I may have made it simpler on myself,” Stricker stated. “It is robust to win anyplace, and I am completely satisfied to get it accomplished.”
Stricker additionally made a tricky bunker save left of the 17th inexperienced for par. Cejka and Karlsson within the ultimate group wanted eagle to drive a playoff. Cejka got here up quick and in a bunker on the par-5 closing gap, whereas Karlsson despatched his fairway steel nicely to the appropriate.
Kevin Sutherland (66) tied for fourth and stayed atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Stricker moved up 11 spots to No. 13 within the Schwab Cup. As Ryder Cup captain, he nonetheless splits time between the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions, and he sounded as if he had been in no fear to affix the 50-and-older set regularly.
He’s simply inside the highest 125 within the FedEx Cup standings on the PGA Tour.
“I get pleasure from taking part in out right here,” Stricker stated. “The competitors is nice, however I nonetheless get pleasure from taking part in on the common tour. I’ve had a few good showings. I need to play on that large tour and see if I am unable to make the playoffs yet another time.”