Stricker comes second in world

02/08/2010

Stricker comes second in world

Everyone expected Steve Stricker to win, even with a big lead,. It was a tough day for him.

Stricker watched a six-shot lead slip to two after just five holes Sunday at Riviera before he steadied himself and closed with a 1-under 70 for a two-shot victory over Luke Donald in the Northern Trust Open.

His fourth PGA Tour victory in his last 15 starts moved him up to No. 2 in the world ranking.

Stricker won for the eighth time in his career, and once again welled up with tears after the victory. This time, all it took was a reminder of where he was four years ago, when he lost his PGA Tour card.

Stricker didn't make it easy on himself, having to grind for pars as Donald kept pouring in birdies. But after Donald missed two short birdie attempts, Stricker fired off two straight birdies to restore a comfortable margin.

He finished at 16-under 268 and earned $1.152 million to go over $25 million for his golf clubs career.

Donald made birdie on the 17th to again trim the lead to two shots, but that was as close as he ever got. He closed with a 66. Dustin Johnson had a 66 and J.B. Holmes made a late surge for a 67 to tie for third.

Phil Mickelson, trying to become the first player to win three straight years at Riviera, had a 73 and finished 14 shots behind.

Even as he left the course Saturday night leading by five shots, Steve Stricker said he expected a long, tough day.

The long day came from having to return in the morning darkness to finish off his third round. With temperatures in the 40s before the sun climbed over Sunset Boulevard, he rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th, hit 7-iron to 4 feet for birdie on the 16th and led by seven shots until a bogey on the 18th, his first in 32 holes. Stricker completed a 66 for a six-shot lead.