Stricker rallies in final round to win Chubb Classic
Steve Stricker figured someone could come out of the pack with a low score and win the Chubb Classic on Sunday, and it turned out to be him.
Stricker closed with a 5-under 67, taking control with a wedge into 3 feet for birdie on the 16th hole. That carried him to a one-shot victory in Naples, Florida, where the 54-year-old from Madison makes his winter home.
The U.S. Ryder Cup captain won for the sixth time on the PGA Tour Champions, his first title since the U.S. Senior Open in the summer of 2019.
“I felt like someone could shoot a low number, and I was hoping it would be me,” Stricker said. “There's a lot of short irons on this course if 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 each made birdie on the final hole to tie for second.
Stricker started one shot behind at Tiburon Golf Club and ran off three birdies on the front nine of the Black course to surge ahead. He stretched his lead to three shots before a collection of players began to creep closer.
Stricker had a chance to put it away earlier until catching the lip on an 8-foot birdie putt on the 14th. He had a long eagle putt on the 15th that he left about 6 feet short, and he pulled that one badly to settle for par.
That opened the door for others in the group behind, particular with two par 5s over the final four holes. Stricker gave himself a bigger cushion with his wedge that landed about 12 feet short of the hole on the 16th and rolled out to 3 feet.
“I could have made it easier on myself,” Stricker said. “It's tough to win anywhere, and I'm happy to get it done.”
PGA Tour: Stewart Cink shot a steady, stress-free 70 to cap off a dominant, record-breaking week and win the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
The 47-year-old Cink finished at 19under 265 at Harbour Town, four better than Emiliano Grillo and Harold Varner III. Grillo shot a 68 while Varner, who fired a 66.
Cink is also just the fourth player to win twice in the same PGA Tour season after turning 47. Sam Snead, Julius Boros and Kenny Perry are the others.
LPGA Tour: Lydia Ko torched Kapolei Golf Club and the Lotte Championship tournament records in the process.
A final-round 65 left her at 28-under 260 and seven shots ahead in Kapolei, Hawaii.
Ko came up three strokes shy of the record of 31 under. That was set by Sei Young Kim, who finished tied with Inbee Park, Nelly Korda and Leona Maguire at 267.