Stricker world #2 after Riviera win
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Northern Trust Open | Round Four | 08 Feb 2010
Steve Stricker has not only won his 8th PGA Tour title, but in claiming the Northern Trust Open Championship at the Riviera Country Club today he has moved into second place in the world ranking.
Stricker held off England’s Luke Donald by two shots and won a title he narrowly missed out on in 2009. Last year he took the lead off Phil Mickelson during the final round only to bogey the final hole to lose by one.
Stricker began the final round with a six shot lead and although he led throughout and won by two it was not the straightforward victory it appeared on paper.
“Well, obviously it was a very special week but it was a tough day,” said Stricker after his round. "It was a grind. I knew it would be. I knew it would be hard. You find yourself playing a little differently than you normally do when you have that sort of lead, and I’ve made had one other lead like that back in ’96. It was so long ago I couldn’t really remember how I handled it.
“You know, it’s just difficult playing with that sort of lead, and it was tough, and a lot of guys were making birdies and applying the pressure; one of them right in my group, Luke Donald, he played great. I’m just happier than heck to be here and be the champion.”
“Well, it means a lot,” he added referring to the significance of the title. “I’m in that locker room and you look at some of the old photos of previous champions here and a great old course that has produced those champions, it means a lot to be a part of it and to have my name on there. Yeah, I don’t know what else to say. But it means a lot, and it won’t — I’ll never forget it, obviously.”
“I think not winning it last year helped me last year, and even this year, I guess, looking back at it I learned from those mistakes I made coming down the stretch last year. You know, you put them in your memory bank, I guess, and you look back at them and make sure that you try not to do the same things.”
Stricker’s win continues an amazing run of four wins and eleven further top ten finishes in the past twelve months moving him from 18th in the world standings in early February or 2009 to trail only Tiger Woods now. His victory today moved him past Phil Mickelson who holds on to the number three position ahead of Dubai runner-up, Lee Westwood.
Runner-up, Donald, has a great record at Riviera also having finished 6th and 3rd in his previous two visits to the outstanding layout in Pacific Palisades. It was Donald’s best finish since finishing runner up at the Honda Classic two years ago.
Dustin Johnson and J.B. Holmes tied for third, Holmes putting together a big finish over the closing nine holes to leapfrog his way through the pack.
The leading Australian was Marc Leishman who continues to impress. His homeward nine of 31 completed a round of 65 for a share of 15th position and yet another US$100,000 cheque.
Robert Allenby and Rod Pampling were 27th, Aaron Baddeley 51st and Stuart Appleby and Greg Chalmers 61st. Nick O’Hern made the cut but did not play the final round under the MDF rule.
