Steve Stricker emerged as the victor at the Sanford International in South Dakota, sinking a 20-foot eagle putt to catch KJ Choi and securing his sixth win of the year. As a PGA Tour Champion, Stricker’s impressive performance earned him a prize of $300,000, bringing his total winnings for the year to just shy of $4 million. This marked a record-setting season for Stricker as he surpassed his previous earnings on the over-50 circuit. Additionally, Stricker maintained his consistency throughout the year, never finishing worse than 8th place. Notably, three of his six wins came in majors on the senior circuit, with the Sanford International being his third victory in the tournament.
Reflecting on the competition, Stricker described it as a battle, acknowledging the challenges that arise when striving for victory on a Sunday. He began the final round with a one-stroke lead but had to catch up to Choi, who started strongly and finished with a 65. The turning point came on the par-5 12th hole, where Stricker’s well-executed tee shot and subsequent 20-foot putt resulted in an eagle. On the 15th hole, he faced a bunker shot but skillfully managed to end with a birdie. Maintaining his lead, Stricker encountered some difficulty on the par-5 16th hole when his tee shot went awry, forcing him to lay up. However, his wedge shot landed just 8 feet from the hole, allowing him to sink the birdie putt and preserve his one-shot advantage. Meanwhile, Choi Hee, playing in the front group, encountered a bogey on his final hole, providing Stricker with a two-stroke advantage and a buffer for mistakes. In the end, Stricker three-putted the 18th hole but still finished at 16 under, 194.
Choi, who was aiming for his second victory on the PGA Tour Champions, had a strong performance as well, achieving a score of 30 on the front nine and not dropping a bogey until the final hole. Joe Durant secured third place with a birdie streak in the last three holes, while Bernhard Langer’s impressive 64 earned him sole fourth place in the tournament. With three more wins needed to break the single-season title record, Stricker’s lead of over $2 million in the Charles Schwab Cup gives him a strong advantage with only five tournaments remaining on the PGA Tour Champions.