Stricker soaks up hometown support at tourney
HE walked to the 18th green to a rousing ovation and left it as the US Open clubhouse leader, though at five under par Steve Stricker eventually finished 11 strokes behind winner Brooks Koepka.
Yet with the Big Three of the rankings – Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day – all making early exits outside the cut line, home-grown veteran Stricker was the uncontested crowd favourite at Erin Hills.
“It was really cool,” Stricker said of the stirring support he received and the final hole ovation at the state’s first hosting of a US Open.
“I don’t get those very often. To play well today on top of it was extra special.”
Stricker paid his supporters back on Sunday with a three-under-par 69 in windy conditions on the long, links-style layout.
A 12-time winner on the PGA Tour and the US captain for the upcoming Presidents Cup, Stricker was denied a request for a special exemption into the field and had to qualify.
“I’m glad I made it here. I’m glad I qualified and was able to play.” he said.
“It was a pretty special week. My wife and kids were here.”
In the end, Stricker, 50, marvelled at the way the young, big hitters handled Erin Hills, which at about 7 100m, was the longest course ever for a US Open.
“At the start of the week I was thinking five-under would maybe win this thing, and I was pretty far off,” he said.
“I don’t know if I have 14-under in my bag to play. These guys play a different game.”
Without much wind until Sunday and with rains during the week softening the greens for long-distance approach shots, scores were lower than expected.
Still, Stricker was struck by the players’ power.
“A three-wood 300 yards [270m] yesterday for Justin Thomas,” he said, referring to Thomas’s approach to the par-five 18th that led to an eagle for a US Open record score of nine-under 63.
“These guys have a lot of firepower.” – Reuters