Steve Stricker wins fourth Sanford International after stirring four hole sudden death playoff with Richard Green
Third consecutive win at Minnehaha Country Club for Wisconsin native
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – It was only fitting that Steve Stricker’s fourth Sanford International championship would require four extra holes of sudden death playoff drama.
The 57-year old from Wisconsin continued his mastery of Minnehaha Country Club with perhaps his best, and most personally meaningful. performance on Sunday, coming from three shots back in his quest to win a third straight Sanford International and taking two shot lead over Richard Green heading to 18.
It’s there where things would take a turn. With a par putt to ice the championship Stricker came up short and bogeyed, leaving the door slightly open for Green who was just one stroke behind. Green promptly birdie on 18 when his playing group came through, thus forcing a sudden death playoff.
It appeared things would end quickly on the first hole, also played at 18, when Stricker’s tee shot went behind a tree and into a crowd. After back up that crowd, putting down ropes and even getting a TV tower to detract, Stricker took a shot that, miraculously, didn’t hit a limb and found the far side of the green in position to two putt for par, which he did.
Green also matched Stricker with a par sending the playoff to a second playoff hole (also on 18). When each man made par they went to a third playoff hole at 11. Once again, each man made par.
Finally a breakthrough would be made on the fourth playoff hole which was back on 18. With his second shot on the Par 4 18th Stricker drove the green and his ball rolled up hill and hit the pin, softly skipping to within a foot or two of the cup.
The pressure was on Green to respond with a long birdie putt from near the top of the green yet pushed it just wide to the left.
Following the trophy presentation Stricker talked about why the fourth title at the Sanford Invitational hits a little bit differently then the first three. Click on the video viewer for highlights & reaction!
