Stricker increases Open lead
STEVE Stricker is the man to beat when he shows up on the PGA Tour Champions.
“Let’s just get it on the table, Steve Stricker is kind of becoming a jerk,” fellow player Billy Andrade joked Friday, a day before Stricker opened a six- stroke lead in the US Senior Open.
Seeking his second senior major title after winning the Regions Tradition by six strokes in May in Alabama, the 52-year-old Stricker had a tournament-record 18-under 192 total on the rain-softened Warren Golf Course. He shot a 4-under 66 yesterday and extended his bogey-free run to 48 holes.
“Much the same as it was the first two days, just driving it in the fairway,” Stricker said.
“Hit some pretty good iron shots into the greens. Just didn’t get into too many problems. That was the key. And if I did, I was able to get it up and down or make a save of some sort.”
The 2020 US Ryder Cup captain, Stricker has split time between the PGA Tour and the senior circuit since turning 50. He’s making his first start in the event after skipping it the last two years.
He opened with a 62 to tie the tournament record and share the first-round lead with David Toms, then shot a 64 on Saturday to take a two-stroke advantage.
Fellow Madison, Wisconsin, player Jerry Kelly was second after a 70. Kelly beat Stricker and Retief Goosen in a playoff last week in Madison in the PGA Tour Champions event that Stricker hosts.
Bob Estes had a 68 to get to 10 under.
Tom Watson, who equalled his age 69 on Thursday and bettered it with a 68 on Friday, had a 73 to drop to event par. Gary Nicklaus, making his debut in the event with father Jack, the winner of 18 majors, and mother Barbara watching, struggled with his putter and shot 75 to fall to 4 over.