Steve Stricker of the US clinched his 10th USPGA Tour title by one shot at the Memorial on Sunday after holding off a birdie barrage from his closest pursuers with an ice-cool display.
Three strokes clear going into the final round at Muirfield Village Golf Club, the 44-year-old Stricker birdied six of the first nine holes and then survived a few anxious moments after the turn on the way to a four-under 68.
Following a lengthy weather delay, Stricker bogeyed the 15th after his drive sailed left into trees, but he did well to save par from the back bunker at the short 16th, before dropping another shot at the last for a 16-under total of 272.
Photo: Reuters
World No. 7 Matt Kuchar of the US emerged as the main challenger early on, but ran out of holes as he closed with a 65 to share second place with compatriot Brandt Jobe (65).
Long-hitting Dustin Johnson of the US also carded 65 for fourth at 12-under, one ahead of Britain’s Rory McIlroy (68).
“It was a little bit of a struggle after we came out from the rain delay and at that point I’m just trying not to make a mistake, but I hung tough and holed a couple of crucial putts when I had to,” a smiling Stricker said after being hugged by tournament host Jack Nicklaus. “It was pretty special walking off [18]. He [Nicklaus] is a friend and it’s truly an honor.”
Stricker, who climbed four places to fourth when the world rankings were issued yesterday, ranked his Memorial victory among the most meaningful of his career.
“It’s right up there at the top, if it isn’t [at the very top],” he said. “It’s a great field, it’s a great course and when you have Mr Nicklaus’ name attached to it, it adds another element of importance.”
With greens receptive to attacking approach play after being softened by overnight rain, Stricker stretched his lead to four by coolly sinking 10-foot birdie putts at the first two holes.
Kuchar briefly cut that advantage to three after hitting a superb approach to within two feet of the cup at the sixth, but Stricker responded with a birdie at the par-five fifth.
Kuchar picked up further shots at the seventh and eighth to close to within two strokes of the lead. Undaunted, Stricker tightened his grip with three consecutive birdies from the seventh to reach the turn four strokes clear.
He parred the next three holes, including a brilliant up-and-down from a bunker at the par-three 12th, and he had just teed off on 13 when play was halted because of the threat of lightning.
At that point, Stricker’s lead had been trimmed to three as Jobe made a sizzling run of five birdies from the seventh.
After play finally resumed, Stricker recorded his first bogey of the day at the par-five 15th, where his errant drive into trees forced him to take a penalty drop because of an unplayable lie.
Despite wobbling over the closing stretch, he nervelessly knocked in par-saving putts from 16 and seven feet at the 16th and 17th, before bogeying the last after finding bunkers off the tee and with his approach.
“Fifteen really made me feel pretty uncomfortable, but I made a couple of great putts coming in,” Stricker said.
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