Susanne Kemper in Kapalua reports —–World No. 6 Steve Stricker retained his stranglehold in the season-opening $US 5.6m Hyundai Tournament of Champions event in Kapalua.
Stricker takes a five stroke lead into Monday’s last day on the Plantation course after posting a third day 69 and move to 19-under par.
Steve Stricker leading by five with a round to play in Kapalua. (Photo - Susanne Kemper)
Winds accelerated in the afternoon with some strong gusts making scoring a little tougher despite 20 of the 27 players ending with under par rounds.
Stricker went into day three leading by five strokes and while he struggled early on, he finally got some forward momentum with a birdie on the par-5, 15th to move to 16-under par.
He then played a superb chip shot from below the green for birdie on 16 to retain his five stroke leading advantage after 54 holes.
“It was a struggle to day with not a lot happening,” he said.
“I just stayed patient, then at 15 I knew it would be tough. It’s hard to keep momentum when you aren’t making birdies, and you are leading. I hope I don’t make it as tough tomorrow!”
Webb Simpson, the 26-year old World Number 10, playing in the final twosome with Stricker carded a second round 68 to be tied in second place on 14-under par with fellow American Jonathon Bryd (67) and Colorado-based Scot Martin Laird (67).
“We have the grandparents here this week so my wife and I we went to Roy’s in Kahana which is our favourite restaurant,” said Byrd.
“We also we took our laundry and did it between pupu’s.
“But Stricker is a tough guy to catch.”
Laird rekindled his claims to a third PGA Tour success with four birdies on the front for a 32 but undid his good work with a bogey at the par-3 11th followed but quickly recovered fo a birdie on the 12th.
The reigning Arnold Palmer Invitational champion then birdied the 15th and 16th holes in a round of a six under par 67.
NOTES FROM THE THIRD ROUND
Steve Stricker, 68-63-69 (-19), 1st
Thru 14 holes during Sunday’s third round, Steve Stricker was even-par and appeared he would lose his second-round five-stroke lead at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. But as the 44-year-old has done all week, Stricker finished strong with birdies on each of the final four holes to keep his five-stroke lead going into Monday’s final round.
Stricker has played the final five holes in 13-under-par through three rounds. This is the best any player has played the last five holes through three rounds in tourna ment history since the event moved to the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
Stricker holds the outright lead heading into the final round for the eighth time in his career and the outright 54-hole lead for the seventh (led a 90-hole event once going into the final round). In 72-hole events, Stricker has never lost when entering the final round alone with a lead.
Steve Stricker shared the lead with Jonathan Byrd and Robert Garrigus after 54 holes at this event last year. He went on to finish T4.
Byrd, who shot a 6-under-par 67 to move to 14-under-par and T2, will be in the final group with Stricker on Monday. Byrd was also in the final group with Stricker at the Memorial Tournament. Stricker started the final round of that event with a 3-stroke lead and went on to victory.
Steve Stricker’s five-stroke 54-hole lead is one short of the tournament mark set by Geoff Ogilvy in 2009.
Stricker is looking for his fourth consecutive top-10 finish at this event. In his last three Trips to Kapalua, he has finished 2nd-2008, T10-2010 and T4-2011.
Steve Stricker is looking to become the second-consecutive American winner of the event (Jonathan Byrd/2011). Prior to 2011, the Hyundai produced nine consecutive international winners.
