AKRON, Ohio ¯ For most of the day Sunday, it looked like the final round of the 2023 Kaulig Companies Championship would go right down to the wire.
And then Steve Stricker closed the door early.
Stricker drained a lengthy birdie putt on 15 and stuck his approach on “The Monster” 16th to within a few feet to open up a three-stroke lead with two holes to play, and he went on to claim his third major of the 2023 PGA Tour Champions season.
It’s his fifth win of the season. Stricker’s last six starts on the Champions tour: 1st-1st-T2-1st-2nd-1st.
Stricker finished the Kaulig Companies Championship at 11 under, besting Harrison Frazar in the final group. Frazar ended up at 7 under, tied for third, along with K.J. Choi and Ernie Els. David Toms finished in second place at 8 under.
It was Stricker’s second win at Firestone South in three years.
“It’s very special. You know, it’s our Players Championship. It gets me into the PlayersChampionship next year on the regular Tour, which was a goal of mine to get back there again before the end of my career,” Stricker said. “Very excited. Very, very excited to be able to go back there.
“To have won here in the inaugural Kaulig Companies tournament, it seems like — I just met [Matt Kaulig] for the first time. He seemed to be very enthusiastic about being the sponsor here, and that’s what makes for a good event. So, yeah, very excited to be the champion.”
Stricker and Frazar entered the par-3 15th separated by only one stroke. Frazar stuck his tee shot to within about 20 feet, and Stricker’s was left on the front of the green, at least 40 feet from the cup, opening the door for a potential tie heading into 16.
Instead, Stricker sank his birdie try and Frazar missed, putting the former in a commanding position. On 16, Stricker landed his approach and spun it back to within a few feet for an easy birdie putt, effectively ending Frazar’s comeback chances.
“That putt he made on the par 3, he made about a 40-, 45-footer there, and then that wedge shot he hit on 16 was one of the best wedge shots I’ve ever seen,” Frazar said. “That was a one-two punch and the rest of us were out.”
Stricker’s approach on 14 sailed to the right, putting him in an awkward spot where he couldn’t get his footing. His chip rolled off the green, leading to a bogey. That cut his lead down to one shot and seemed to push the momentum into Frazar’s favor, especially when Frazar hit his tee shot on 15 inside of Stricker’s.
But the 40-plus-foot putt on 15, combined with Frazar missing the shorter attempt, was the back-breaker.
“To make that putt and then to have Harrison miss that, I mean, that really was the turning point right there. That’s a killer when you’re on the other end of that,” Stricker said. “I know that, I’ve been there and it’s demoralizing, but on my end it was really fun, to be honest.
“Those two holes definitely won me the tournament.”
In reality, Stricker’s drive to the Kaulig Companies Championship title began Friday night. After firing a 5-under 65, he struggled during Friday’s round 2, finishing with a 3-over 73. It could have taken him out of contention.
Still frustrated, he didn’t sleep well that night and responded on Saturday with another 5-under 65, putting him into the final group.
“I went to the range Friday afternoon and hit some balls, worked on it and went back to some of the keys that I always go back to since 2005, started feeling some better things,” he said.
Stricker was snap-hooking some shots to the left, but was able to mostly correct it over the weekend. He managed the issue long enough to wait until the 15th hole on Sunday, when he finally delivered the knockout blow.
Also of note, Bernhard Langer finished in a tie for sixth at 5 under for the tournament. Stewart Cink placed in a tie for 7th at 4 under after a disappointing 72 on Sunday. Defending champion Jerry Kelly finished in 12th at 1 under.
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