Emotional Steve Stricker Wins First PGA Tour Champions Title
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12 months after narrowly missing out at the Cologuard Classic in his Champions Tour debut, Steve Stricker finally sealed his maiden title
Emotional Steve Stricker Wins First PGA Tour Champions Title
A year after making his PGA Tour Champions debut, Steve Stricker finally got his maiden win on the over-50s circuit at the Cologuard Classic in Arizona.
The American found water on the 72nd hole last year to cost himself the title but made par this time around for a two stroke victory.
Stricker shot a closing four-under-par 69 to beat Jerry Kelly and Gene Sauers by two for his 24th title as a professional.
His closing 69 got him to 14-under-par.
Related: Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker named USA Ryder Cup Vice Captains
The 51-year-old's last victory came more than six years ago at the 2012 Tournament of Champions.
Watch Stricker's post-round interview:
An emotional Stricker said after, "It's been a long time. I cry every time, it means a lot. It's hard to win and it was building on me.
"I was fighting it.
Related: Phil Mickelson wins WGC-Mexico Championship
"I didn't make a bogey today, which I'm really proud of, and made some really good saves to do that.
"Just hung in there and finished it off. It's a relief to tell you the truth.
"It all worked out finally. It's been a challenge out here.
"I put a little extra pressure on myself to try to win. I've been close, let one get away her last year, so it's finally really a nice feeling to finally pull one out."
Related: Driving distance increase "unusual and concerning" - Distance Report 2017
Stricker has made just eight PGA Tour Champions appearances since turning 50 last February but has had some superb results so far.
He was 2nd in his debut here last year and was T2nd at the Chubb Classic two weeks ago and has a further three top-3 finishes.
In his eight starts, he is yet to finish outside of the top-13.
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Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-6. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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