蜜柚直播

The finishing hole at Omni 蜜柚直播 National Resort does not fit his eye, he would concede later. Two of the previous three times he had played it, Stricker had hit his tee shot into the left water hazard. The first such instance cost him a possible victory a year ago.

There were no such issues this time. Stricker struck a perfect 3-wood that landed on the right side of the fairway. He parred the menacing 18th to win the Cologuard Classic by two strokes, his first victory on the PGA Tour Champions. Stricker made his tour debut here last year.

鈥淚t all worked out finally,鈥� a relieved Stricker said afterward. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a challenge out here. I put a little extra pressure on myself to try to win. I鈥檝e been close, let one get away here last year, so it鈥檚 really a nice feeling to finally pull one out.鈥�

Stricker, 51, finished second at last year鈥檚 event. He had finished in the top three five times in his first seven Champions Tour starts.

Stricker鈥檚 history of heartbreak in 蜜柚直播 goes all the way back to 1994. As a PGA Tour rookie, making his second career start, he finished tied for second in the Northern Telecom Open.

鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting to put that hat on for a long time,鈥� Stricker said from the 18th green before placing the 蜜柚直播 Conquistadores helmet atop his head.

Stricker got choked up as he addressed the fans, whom he thanked for their weeklong support. Although he has won 12 times on the PGA Tour, this victory clearly meant a lot to him. His last win came in 2012.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a relief, to tell you the truth,鈥� Stricker said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been in the top three a bunch. That keeps building when you鈥檙e not winning.鈥�

Stricker finished at 14 under par after shooting a bogey-free 4-under 69 Sunday. Jerry Kelly, Gene Sauers and Scott Dunlap tied for second. Sauers and Dunlap were a stroke back when Stricker teed off on 18.

Sauers was playing in the group ahead, and Stricker later would learn that Sauers hit his tee shot into the water. Sauers bogeyed 18 to drop to minus-12.

Dunlap was in Stricker鈥檚 group. Dunlap had gained a shot on Stricker after making birdie on No. 17, which Stricker parred. Dunlap, however, fell victim to the tee shot on 18 that has tripped up so many. He pounded a driver right through the fairway into the lake.

鈥淐rap drive,鈥� Dunlap said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get left of the top of the mound. That鈥檚 why the hole, it鈥檚 really just one of the best finishing holes you鈥檒l ever see. It鈥檚 perfect. You鈥檝e got to stand up there, shape one, right side of the mound, and don鈥檛 hit it in the right water.

鈥淚f you do that, it鈥檚 all right there in front of you. You鈥檒l probably get your four and get out. But if you don鈥檛, you鈥檙e working for five like I was.鈥�

Dunlap鈥檚 approach shot, his third after taking a drop, came to rest to the right of the green. He putted through the fringe to about a foot and a half right of the cup.

With Sauers and Dunlap making bogey on the par-4 hole, Stricker had three shots to win from the left fringe. He needed only two, rolling in his par putt to erase any doubt.

Three earlier par saves 鈥� on Nos. 11, 13 and 16 鈥� were the key to Stricker鈥檚 round. He wouldn鈥檛 have won without them.

鈥淚t鈥檚 tough winning anywhere on any tour,鈥� Stricker said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 give it to you. You鈥檝e got to go and try to get it, and fortunately I was able to make a couple more putts than anybody else.鈥�

Dunlap, seeking his first victory since 2014, missed several makeable putts. 鈥淪hort putting can be the bane of my existence,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd it was today.鈥�

Kelly came within inches of posting a 13-under, which would have changed the dynamic for Stricker on 18. Kelly, whose 8-under 65 was the best round of the day, barely missed an eagle putt on No. 17.

鈥淚 left it two inches short, right in the jaws,鈥� Kelly said.

At minus-12, Kelly figured his fate was sealed. But if anyone else were to win, it might as well be Stricker, Kelly鈥檚 buddy and fellow Madison, Wisconsin, native.

鈥淵ou know he鈥檚 finally going to finish one when I鈥檓 right there,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淵ou know that鈥檚 going to happen, because he鈥檚 going to look at me and go, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 not going to happen.鈥� 鈥�

After Stricker鈥檚 final putt curled into the cup, he hugged his caddie, Mario Tiziani, who also happens to be his brother-in-law. Kelly and fellow pro Billy Andrade were among the first to congratulate Stricker as he exited the 18th green to sign his scorecard.

Upon returning, Stricker spoke to the crowd, shook hands with the Conquistadores and high-fived a phalanx of representatives from Exact Sciences, manufacturer of first-year sponsor Cologuard.

鈥淲ell,鈥� Stricker then said, 鈥渢hat was hard.鈥�

It was, which made it all the more satisfying.

Chip shots

The 18th hole was harder than ever this year, averaging 4.452 strokes. The field made 15 birdies, 69 bogeys, 22 doubles and two 鈥渙thers.鈥�

• Stricker is the fourth winner of this event in as many years. Last year鈥檚 champion, Tom Lehman, finished tied for 24th at
• 6 under par. Stricker is also the third player to record his first PGA Tour Champions victory here.
• Tommy Tolles, who began the day with a one-stroke lead, shot a 2-over 75 to finish in a tie for ninth.