Steve Stricker is taking over the PGA Tour Champions.
The 55-year-old won his 12th Champions tour title – his fifth win in his last 11 starts – on Saturday after he eased his way to a six-shot win at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Stricker finished at 23 under to beat out Steven Alker, Mike Weir, Ken Tanigawa and Darren Clarke, who all finished T-2 at 17 under.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Stricker. “To win here, I didn’t know what kind of game I had coming into this week, but it was pretty good.”
Stricker began the final round with a two-shot lead and proceeded to make three birdies in his opening four holes. Two more birdies on Nos. 10 and 13 as well as an eagle on the par-5 14th led Stricker to his 12th win in just over five seasons on the senior circuit.
Stricker shot a 12-under 60 during Friday’s second round to become the just second player shoot 60 or better on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, joining Paul Goydos. Stricker shot an opening-round 60 at the 2010 John Deere Classic, the same day Goydos signed for a 59. Goydos shot 60 in the second round of the 2017 3M Championship on the Champions tour.
Also a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, Stricker has now won a quarter of his starts on the PGA Tour Champions.
“You know, I saw that stat somewhere along the way. I feel lucky and blessed to be able to be doing this still, especially where I came from a year ago,” said Stricker, referencing a nasty illness that saw him lose nearly 30 pounds. “It’s still a lot of fun. I still put in the time, I put in the effort. I’ve got a great support system in my wife and kids love to see me play, and Mario helps when he’s not playing. You know, everybody that’s with me is so supportive; my family, my parents I should say and my in-laws. It still keeps going, I still feel like there’s more to do and I can continue to play and play at a higher level. So it’s exciting for me still to come out here and play.”
Stricker plans to “play a pretty full schedule” this season and wants to continue to play a few PGA Tour events as well, such as the John Deere Classic, where he’s a three-time winner.
The Champions tour is back in action Feb. 9-11 with the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco and returns to the states the following week with the Chubb Classic, Feb. 17-19, at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.