Stricker holds nerve to win Memorial by one shot

Sri Lanka, June 7 -- American Steve Stricker clinched his 10th PGA Tour title by one shot at theMemorial tournament on Sunday after holding off a birdie barragefrom his closest pursuers with an ice-cool display.Three strokes clear going into the final round at MuirfieldVillage Golf Club, the 44-year-old Stricker birdied six of thefirst nine holes and then survived a few anxious moments after theturn on the way to a four-under-par 68.Following a lengthy weather delay, Stricker bogeyed the 15thafter his drive sailed left into trees but did well to save parfrom the back bunker at the short 16th before dropping another shotat the last for a 16-under total of 272.American world number seven Matt Kuchar emerged as the mainchallenger early on but ran out of holes as he closed with a 65 toshare second place with compatriot Brandt Jobe (65). Long-hittingAmerican Dustin Johnson also carded 65 for fourth at 12 under, oneahead of Britain's Rory McIlroy (68)."It was a little bit of a struggle after we came out from therain delay and at that point I'm just trying not to make amistake," a smiling Stricker said greenside after being hugged bytournament host Jack Nicklaus."But I hung tough and holed a couple of crucial putts when I hadto. It was pretty special walking off (18). He (Nicklaus) is afriend and it's truly an honour." Stricker, who will climb fourplaces to fourth when the world rankings are issued Monday, rankedhis Memorial victory among the most meaningful of his career."It's right up there at the top, if it isn't (at the very top),"he said. "It's a great field, it's a great course and when you haveMr. Nicklaus's name attached to it, it adds another element ofimportance." With greens receptive to attacking approach play afterbeing softened by overnight rain,アラド戦記 RMT, Stricker stretched his lead tofour by coolly sinking 10-foot birdie putts at the first twoholes.ADVANTAGE TRIMMEDKuchar briefly cut that advantage to three after hitting asuperb approach to within two feet of the cup at the sixth butStricker responded with a birdie at the par-five fifth. Kuchar,playing one group in front of Stricker, picked up further shots atthe seventh and eighth to close to within two strokes of thelead.Undaunted, Stricker appeared to tighten his grip on thetournament with three consecutive birdies from the seventh to reachthe turn in five-under 30, four strokes clear. He parred the nextthree holes, including a brilliant up-and-down from a bunker at thepar-three 12th, and had just teed off on 13 when play was haltedfor just over two-and-a-half hours due to the threat of lightning.At that point, Stricker's lead had been trimmed to three as Jobemade a sizzling run of five birdies from the seventh. After playfinally resumed, Stricker recorded his firstbogey of the day at the par-five 15th where his errant driveinto trees forced him to take a penalty drop because of anunplayable lie.Despite wobbling over the closing stretch, he nervelesslyknocked in par-saving putts from 16 and seven feet at the 16th and17th before bogeying the last after finding bunkers off the tee andwith his approach."Fifteen really made me feel pretty uncomfortable," Strickersaid. "But I made a couple of great putts coming in."Kuchar and Jobe applauded Stricker's final-round play. "I playedsome great golf for four days,pso2 RMT," Kuchar said. "Ifsomebody beats you, you tip your hat and say, 'Great playing,Steve'. My five-under on the front didn't gain any ground on him.It was tough to see." Added Jobe: "Steve played great,カバル RMT.I thought if we would have gone out and shot 65 that might havebeen good enough, but we were a little short. It was his tournamentto win or lose, and he went out there and won it." Published by HTSyndication with permission from Daily Mirror Sri Lanka. For anyquery with respect to this article or any other contentrequirement, please contact Editor athtsyndication@hindustantimes.com