Steve Stricker ended a six-year victory drought on Sunday with birdies on the last three holes to give him a two-stroke win over KJ Choi of South Korea at the Barclays Classic.
Stricker (40) stood two over par for the day through the first 13 holes, but charged back with four birdies over the last five holes at Westchester Country Club for a two-under-par 69 and a total of 16-under-par 268.
Choi, who sank two 45-foot birdie putts on the back nine during a head-to-head duel with playing partner Stricker, parred from the 16th to complete a one-under 70 for 270.
South African Rory Sabbatini posted a 68 to finish third at 13-under-par 271.
The victory was Stricker’s first since the 2001 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Australia. The American collected $1,26-million for the win at Westchester.
”It was hard, but it was a lot of fun too,” an emotional Stricker told reporters. ”I never knew if I was going to win again. This was sweet.”
Tied for fourth place on 12 under par were Ernie Els of South Africa (68), Australian Geoff Ogilvy (69) and American Mark Calcavecchia (65). — Reuters