Steve Stricker, Ernie Els tied after Round 2 at American Family Insurance Championship
Things to Know
Dating to an opening-round 10-under 62 en route to winning last week’s Principal Charity Classic, Ernie Els moves to 30-under par in his last five rounds; looks to become the first player to win consecutive events on PGA TOUR Champions since this week’s tournament host, Steve Stricker, achieved the feat in May of 2023
In his bid to become the first player to successfully defend a PGA TOUR Champions title since Stephen Ames at the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Classic, Tournament Host Steve Stricker birdied four of his last five holes to finish with a share of the lead at 9-under 135
Ernie Els/T1 (71-64–135/9-under)
A week removed from his fourth career win on PGA TOUR Champions at the Principal Charity Classic, offset one bogey with seven birdies and an eagle (par-5 16th) to sign for an 8-under 64
The 8-under 64 comes in just his fourth round since opening last week’s Principal Charity Classic in 10-under 62
With a win Sunday, would become the first player on PGA TOUR Champions to win back-to-back events since Steve Stricker at the 2023 Regions Tradition and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Is 2-for-7 when attempting to convert a 36-hole lead/co-lead into victory in a 54-hole event on PGA TOUR Champions (2023 Hoag Classic, 2024 Principal Charity Classic)
In two previous American Family Insurance Championship starts, finished T35 in 2021 and 10th in 2023
Steve Stricker/T1 (69-66–135/9-under)
Tournament host and defending champion, began his round with back-to-back birdies before finishing it with additional birdies on four of his last five holes (Nos. 14-17) before signing for a 6-under 66; four consecutive birdies is his season-long best (previously three)
The 66 marks his 20th round in the American Family Insurance Championship and 19th at par-or-better (2-over 74/R2/2018)
Is now a collective 85 under par in the event at University Ridge Golf Course
Is 6-for-10 when attempting to convert a 36-hole lead/co-lead into victory in a 54-hole event on PGA TOUR Champions
Seeks an 18th PGA TOUR Champions win – and first of the 2024 season – in his 70th PGA TOUR Champions start this week
Dating to the end of last season, has made eight consecutive starts without a victory, marking his longest winless streak on PGA TOUR Champions (previously seven, on two occasions)
Has finished inside the top 10 on six of seven occasions this season (T32/Cologuard Classic)
Additional Player Notes
Coming off last week’s T3 finish at the Principal Charity Classic, his first top-10 finish on PGA TOUR Champions, David Duval (Third/7-under) signed for a 4-under 68 in round two to extend his streak of consecutive sub-par scores to five as he continues to distance himself from his previous best stretch of three straight; in two previous starts at the American Family Insurance Championship, finished T54 in 2022 and T45 in 2023
Tim O’Neal followed a double bogey at the first hole with an eagle-birdie comeback on Nos. 2 and 3; made additional birdies at Nos. 6, 11-13 and 16 to get in with a 4-under 68 and move to 6-under 138 (T4); seeks his first PGA TOUR Champions win in his 38th start and first top-10 finish of the season in his 12th start
Through 36 holes in his seventh American Family Insurance Championship, Wisconsin native and 2019 and 2021 champion Jerry Kelly sits T4 at 6-under 138 after opening with back-to-back 3-under 69s; extends his streak of par-or-better rounds in the event to a perfect 20
After making the turn in 5-under 31, Chris DiMarco played his inward nine in even-par, good for a 5-uner 67 to move to 5-under 139 (T6); best of three previous starts in the American Family Insurance Championship was T51 in 2019; his lone top-10 finish in 11 starts this season before this week was T6 at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship two weeks ago; remains in search of his first Champions Tour title in his 122nd start this week
Boo Weekley and Glen Day, who shared the 18-hole lead after matching 4-under 68s, are T15 (4-under) and T27 (2-under), respectively
