Stricker ties record with 63
Source: Agencies |
August 13, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
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STEVE Stricker stood a mere 10 feet away from the lowest round ever in a major, a captivating moment at any other championship.
Not this one.
Not with US Open champion Rory McIlroy, the favorite at this PGA, trying to blast a 7-iron through a tree root. He injured his wrist so badly that he thought of quitting, yet somehow managed an even-par 70 despite not being able to hang onto the club with both hands.
And not with Tiger Woods looking like a 14-time major champion for five holes, only to finish 14 shots out of the lead after stumbling through the sand and posting a 77, his second-worst score ever in a major.
Already a memorable year in the majors, it looks like the PGA Championship wants a piece of the action.
On a sweat-stained Thursday at Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia, Stricker became the 11th player in PGA Championship history to shoot 63. He opened with three straight birdies and kept right on going until he stood on the cusp of history without even knowing it.
Only after his birdie putt for 62 slid by the cup did his caddie, Jimmy Johnson, tell him that it was for the record in a major.
"It never really registered," Stricker said.
"I was just trying to make a birdie and finish 8 under, and I really was concentrating on the putt, but never thought about the history part of it."
He never thought he could be atop the leaderboard, either.
After three days of practice on the 7,467-yard course, the longest par 70 ever at a major, Stricker didn't have a good feeling about his chances.
His money would have been on his Wisconsin neighbor, Jerry Kelly, and he wasn't too far off. Kelly had a career-best 65 in the PGA Championship and was two shots behind.
Not this one.
Not with US Open champion Rory McIlroy, the favorite at this PGA, trying to blast a 7-iron through a tree root. He injured his wrist so badly that he thought of quitting, yet somehow managed an even-par 70 despite not being able to hang onto the club with both hands.
And not with Tiger Woods looking like a 14-time major champion for five holes, only to finish 14 shots out of the lead after stumbling through the sand and posting a 77, his second-worst score ever in a major.
Already a memorable year in the majors, it looks like the PGA Championship wants a piece of the action.
On a sweat-stained Thursday at Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia, Stricker became the 11th player in PGA Championship history to shoot 63. He opened with three straight birdies and kept right on going until he stood on the cusp of history without even knowing it.
Only after his birdie putt for 62 slid by the cup did his caddie, Jimmy Johnson, tell him that it was for the record in a major.
"It never really registered," Stricker said.
"I was just trying to make a birdie and finish 8 under, and I really was concentrating on the putt, but never thought about the history part of it."
He never thought he could be atop the leaderboard, either.
After three days of practice on the 7,467-yard course, the longest par 70 ever at a major, Stricker didn't have a good feeling about his chances.
His money would have been on his Wisconsin neighbor, Jerry Kelly, and he wasn't too far off. Kelly had a career-best 65 in the PGA Championship and was two shots behind.
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