Steve Stricker Wins The 2011 Memorial Tournament
Steve Stricker shot a final round 68 to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Stricker finished at 16-under, just one stroke better than Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe who finished tied for second at -15.
(Steve Stricker wins the Memorial. Photo ESPN)
Stricker became the talk of the tournament on Friday afternoon when he made a hole in one on the 8th hole, a 185 yard par 3. The ace propelled Stricker to a 5-under, 67, and the lead which he never relinquished. Stricker kept momentum going on Saturday afternoon when he made an eagle on the par 4, second hole, when he holed out from the fairway. Three holes later Stricker made an eagle again, this time on the fifth hole, a par 5.
Shooting all four rounds in the 60's at Muirfiled is an impressive task but it was the front 9 which Stricker dominated. He amassed 16 birdies, three eagles (including his hole in one), and just two bogies throughout the weekend. He was 20-under par for the tournament on the front 9 while on the back he was 4-over par. (You can view Steve Strickers scorecard here)
The win itself is impressive but what came with it may be even more meaningful. Just two weeks away from the US Open, Stricker earned 500 FedEx Cup points which moved him from 34th in the standings to 11th. Even more impressive, he moved in 4th in the Official World Golf Rankings making him the highest ranked American in the world. He jumped over previous number four, Phil Mickelson who slid back to 5th.
Notables
Luke Donald can now add another #1 ranking to his list. Donald made a birdie on the 17th hole on Sunday to crack the top 10 and ove into first in the FedEx Cup Standings. Donald moved Bubba Watson in second place and Mark Wilson into 3rd.
Matt Kuchar came up just one stroke short on Sunday but the impressive showing moved him up to 6th in the world and 4th in the FedEx Cup standings. It's the 8th time this season Kuchar has finished in the top 10 and he has made the cut in all 14 events he started this season.
The PGA TOUR heads to Memphis, Tennessee for the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Lee Westwood, the number two ranked golfer in the world, is the defending champion.
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