Stricker finishes strong at home

ERIN, Wis. — Some of the loudest cheers Sunday at the 117th U.S. Open were reserved for a guy who never really challenged the leaders.

Wisconsin golf fans love home-state favorite Steve Stricker.

He had a pretty good final round, too, shooting a 3-under 69 to finish at 5 under for the tournament.

His best finish in 20 U.S. Open appearances came in the first Open to be held in Wisconsin.

There was one last ovation as he walked off the 18th green after putting for par.

“It was really cool. Yeah, I don’t get those very often,” Stricker said.

“And to play well [Sunday] on top of it was extra special.”

Stricker was rolling down

Notebook

the back end of the back nine, with three birdies between the 14th and 17th holes.

He came up short at the par-4 15th, when a 23-foot putt stopped right on the edge of the cup. Stricker tapped in for par.

“Yeah, that would have been nice to get. But can’t complain the way I finished it off,” Stricker said.

He’s not slowing down either.

After turning 50 this year, Stricker gets to play in the PGA Tour Champions event in which he will be the host in Madison next weekend, the American Family Insurance Championship.

He’s not sure if his wife, Nicki, will repeat as his caddie next week, though.

“She’s hurting, I don’t know if she’ll be able to caddie next week,” he said. “But she did well. We had a lot of fun together again.”

Spieth’s sister

Jordan Spieth’s little sister was asking more than he could deliver at Erin Hills.

Spieth said Saturday night he asked Ellie what she wanted him to do in the final round of the U.S. Open. She thought for a second and replied, “16 birdies.”

Spieth opened with a birdie on No. 1 and said to his caddie, “15 more.” And then he made birdie on the next hole. Two down, 14 to go. Three pars later, it was all over.

Spieth had a big grin on his face recounting the story. Smiles are rare at a U.S. Open when a player finishes before the leaders tee off.

Amateur hour

Scottie Scheffler, 20, was the low amateur, shooting a 73 to finish at 1 under.

This has been quite the confidence-building experience for this Texas golfer.

He was the only amateur to qualify out of the tough Columbus, Ohio, sectional.

His sister, Callie, served as his caddie at Erin Hills.

“Being an amateur in the U.S. Open is very cool,” Scheffler said.

Cameron Champ, the only other amateur to make the cut, shot a 76 to finish at even par.

Hail to the King

The 18th hole at Erin Hills had a special flag for the final round. The flag commemorated the late Arnold Palmer’s win at the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in Colorado. It featured a silhouette of Palmer in mid-stride, tossing his visor in the air.

Palmer shot a 65 after going into the final round trailing by seven shots.