Steve Stricker birdied two of the last three holes to claim a three shot win in the $5.6 million Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
The American claimed the $1.12 million first place pay cheque ahead of the elite field made up of last year’s PGA Tour winners, although three Major champions – Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and South African Charl Schwartzel – were missing.
"It was tough," Stricker said. "I never let up but it's always tough trying to win. It's even tougher playing with a lead like I had. In the end I got the ball in the hole."
Stricker finished on 23-under par to beat Scotland's Martin Laird by three shots, with Americans Jonathan Byrd and Webb Simpson sharing third. South Korean KJ Choi and American Harrison Frazar shared fifth.
The 45-year-old began the day with a five-shot lead and struggled to hold on to that lead before his strong finish.
"I felt it kind of slipping away but I was patient, frustrated but patient," Stricker said. "I told myself if I could get a couple back by the turn I would be all right."
Stricker is the only player to win multiple titles in each of the past three PGA Tour seasons, and the 12th title of his career means he looks quite likely to make it four seasons in a row.
Stricker’s career has taken off in the last few years, eight of his 12 PGA Tour wins have come in the last 32 months.
He said he has fully recovered from a neck injury that nagged him late last season and his game is ahead of where it would normally be so early in a season.
"I feel like I'm a little further along than normal and I played that way this week," he said.
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Steve Stricker | -23 |
| Martin Laird | -20 |
| Webb Simpson | -19 |
| Jonathan Byrd | -19 |
| KJ Choi | -15 |
| Harrison Frazar | -15 |
| Chris Kirk | -14 |
| Bryce Molder | -14 |
| Johnson Wagner | -13 |
| Rory Sabbatini | -13 |
