Sep. 15—SIOUX FALLS — Steve Stricker had a third consecutive Sanford International win in the bag as he approached the 18th hole in Sunday’s final round at Minnehaha Country Club.
He had a two stroke lead and was enjoying his best 18 of the tournament. All he had to do was just tap it in.
Instead, Stricker three-putted for a bogey, Australian southpaw Richard Green sank a birdie putt and the pair finished tied at the top at 8-under par.
So they went to a one-hole playoff.
And, after each man shot a four-stroke par on their second try at No. 18, they did it again.
For the third playoff they moved to hole No. 10. Again, both men earned par.
Finally, on the fourth playoff, back on 18, Stricker’s second shot from the left rough rolled directly to the hole, running over the cup and nearly going in for an eagle. That set him up for a 5-foot birdie putt that the Madison, Wisc., native sank to earn the 3-peat and his fourth overall Sanford International win in the seven year history of the event.
“This place is special to me,” Stricker said. “I feel like I have a home-field, home-course advantage for me with all the support I get. It’s a sweet spot for me and a special win.”
Green had chances, with birdie putts from the fringe of the 18th green in both playoffs that came up just short of the cup, and Stricker appeared to be in trouble when his tee shot on 18 in the first playoff settled next to a tree in the rough to the right of the fairway. But Stricker executed a brilliant escape, using draw to wrap his second shot around the tree and onto the green to salvage a second overtime.
“It’s hard to win,” Stricker said. “I didn’t hit the best shots at times coming down the stretch but I gutted it out and found a way. I didn’t think it was really gonna happen after (Green) made birdie in regulation. He had all the momentum, but I just tried to keep fighting and living to play another hole.”
Bernhard Langer and Ernie Els tied for third at 7-under, followed by Steven Alker and Michael Wright at 6-under. Wright had the lead after two rounds but was a +2 on Sunday.
For Stricker, Sioux Falls has become a home away from home as he’s made the tournament his personal domain, and it was easy to sense the gallery rooting for him on Sunday. But this win was about more than that for Stricker. It was his first win since last year’s Sanford International, and his first win since the death of his father, Bob, in January.
Stricker choked up and had to compose himself more than once during a live interview immediately after his win, as his fourth Sanford title was clearly in honor of dad.
“This one was for him,” Stricker said. “I was trying to win one so bad. He was the guy who showed me the game, how to act on the course, just to be a professional. We all miss him. I was putting some extra pressure on myself to try to win one and just dedicate a win to him and I finally did. This one’s for my dad. I love you dad.”
