Steve Stricker catches fire on back nine, eyes back-to-back American Family Insurance Championships
Steve Stricker was just a bit off kilter entering the American Family Insurance Championship this weekend.
He’d played well enough on the PGA Tour Champions circuit to be in contention at several tournaments, but not well enough to win. But two adjustments made over the past six days have the Madison resident and Edgerton native feeling the best he has all season, and that could spell trouble for his competition at the tournament he hosts at University Ridge Golf Course.
Stricker shot 6-under-par 66 in the second round Saturday and is tied for the lead at 9-under 135 heading into the final round. He notched four consecutive birdies on Nos. 14-17 to climb up the leaderboard as he looks to defend his AmFam Championship title. He came millimeters short of a birdie on No. 12 and his birdie putt on 18 came up inches short. Stricker’s eight birdies were the most in the field.
Madison pair in contention after American Family Insurance Championship 1st round
Madison pair in contention after American Family Insurance Championship 1st round
Michael McCleary | Wisconsin State Journal
“I got that club on Monday morning and started hitting it middle of the day Monday,” Stricker said. “I’m like, ‘Here we go. The feelings are back.’”
Stricker is tied with Ernie Els, who finished the day 8-under. Els went birdie or better on five of the final seven holes, including birdies on Nos. 12-14, a momentum-building eagle at the 16th hole that gave him the solo lead, and a putt on 18 that barely caught enough lip to fall. Els is coming off a win last week at the Principal Charity Classic and he’s posted top-six finishes at the two Champions majors played thus far.
“I was really struggling with the wind yesterday, really had me off balance for most of the day,” said Els, who was 1 under entering play Saturday. “Greens were very fast, I felt like I was playing defensive.
“With less wind and softer conditions, you can kind of feel how the ball’s going to react.”
— AmFam Championship (@amfamchamp) June 8, 2024
Stricker and Els will play in Sunday’s final group with David Duval, who shot 4-under on Saturday and is 7-under for the tournament. Madison native Jerry Kelly will be in the penultimate group after he shot 3-under on Saturday and is 6-under on the weekend.
Sporadic drizzles fell throughout the morning play, but a bit more consistent rain arrived just before 2 p.m. and lasted more than an hour as the leaders were on the back nine. Rain is less of a concern for Sunday’s final round, but consistent wind in the high teens will lessen players’ chances to score.
Els and Stricker have played against each other throughout their careers, including match-play faceoffs when both were on the PGA Tour. Els got the better of those 1-on-1 situations, topping Stricker at the 2009 WGC-Match Play and in the 2013 Presidents Cup. They’ve become friendly playing together so often on the senior tour, but they’ll be dueling against each other, the weather and 12 players within four shots on Sunday.
“I’m in a good position,” Els said. “Whether I’m leading or not, tomorrow we have 18 holes. There’s a lot of guys up there. Depending on conditions you’re going to have to shoot a good score. Stricker is going to be still the man to beat tomorrow, going with the crowd and everybody.”
