Stricker leads hometown Tour Champions event
MADISON, Wis. — Steve Stricker made himself at home at the top of the leaderboard on a rainy and breezy Friday at the American Family Insurance Championship.
The hometown star and tournament host shot an 8-under 64 at University Ridge to take a one-stroke lead over 63-year-old Brad Bryant in the PGA Tour Champions event. Stricker birdied five of the first eight holes, bogeyed the par-5 ninth, and birdied Nos. 11, 12, 13 and 16.
“The wind was out of the northeast, which is a wind that we don’t see very much of this time of year,” Stricker said. “So there were some holes to start with that played pretty tough and I got through those holes in good shape. Then just kept giving myself a few opportunities. A little hiccup on No. 9, but other than that it was a good round today.”
Because of the wet conditions, the players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairways.
“It’s the same for everybody,” Stricker said. “It’s a little wet out there at times. I think the mowers even had a hard time getting into some of the spots because of the softness, but not that big a deal. The course is in great shape. It’s the best it’s been in three years we’ve been here. It won’t be a problem if we have to play it down. We did get some mud balls today here and there, so it was good to play it in hand, but I could see with the forecast looking good that we might play it down.”
John Daly, Colin Montgomerie shot 67.
Splitting time between the PGA Tour and the 50-and-over circuit, the 51-year-old Stricker had his 30th consecutive Champions round under par, the fourth-longest streak in tour history.
Stricker won in Arizona and Mississippi in consecutive starts in May for his first senior victories. The 12-time PGA Tour winner played the big tour the last two weeks, tying for 18th in Memphis and tying for 20th in the U.S. Open. and Steve Flesch
“It is a little bit different, but it’s still golf,” Stricker said. “Get it in the fairway and then get it on the green, give yourself an opportunity, and did I that today. I took one shot at a time. For the most part I never got too far ahead of myself.”
Fellow Madison player Jerry Kelly and Illinois coach Mike Small, Stricker’s teammate with the Illini, were at 68 with Bernhard Langer, Scott Verplank, Jeff Sluman, Glen Day, Billy Mayfair, Doug Garwood, Jerry Smith and Rocco Mediate.
Bryant had seven birdies in a bogey-free round.
“I had golfing success today — I started and finished with the same ball,” Bryant said. “It’s the truth, so that was good.”
He made his only other tour start this year in February.
Defending champion Fred Couples had a 69. Stricker’s brother-in-law, Mario Tiziani, caddied for Couples.
Stricker played alongside Vijay Singh and Davis Love III. Singh shot 81, and Love 72.
Brian Harman shot a 4-under 66 on Friday to move to 10-under par and watched that hold up for the second-round lead in in Cromwell, Conn., thanks in part to a 10-second rule.
Harman finished a stroke ahead of Matt Jones and first round co-leader Zach Johnson, who lost a stroke during his round of 68 when his birdie putt hung on the lip of the cup at the third hole for longer than the maximum allowed 10 seconds before falling in, giving him a par.
“After 10 seconds, the ball was moving and at that point even if the ball is moving, It’s deemed to be at rest, because it’s on the lip,” Johnson said. “Don’t ask me why, but that’s just the way it is.”
Harman had his short game working for the second consecutive day, taking 26 putts after needing only 23 during the first round.
“The putter has been really good so far, but I’ve been in position a lot,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good looks at it. I’m just able to put a little pressure on the course right now, which is nice.”
Jones hit 16 of 18 greens for the second consecutive day, following up his first round 65 with a 66.
Bryson DeChambeau (66), Paul Casey (67) and Russell Henley (65) were two strokes back going into the weekend.
Lanto Griffin and twotime Travelers champion Bubba Watson were at even par coming into Friday. But both shot a 63 to move into contention heading into the weekend, three shots behind the leader.
Rory McIlroy also is at 7 under after a 69. McIlroy, Watson and Justin Thomas (5 under) were grouped together Thursday and Friday, drawing large galleries.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth, tied with Johnson after an opening 63, had a 73 to drop into a tie for 25th at 4 under.
Masters champion Patrick Reed, coming off a fourth-place finish in the U.S. Open, shot a 67 to miss the cut by a shot at minus-1.