Waste Management: Steve Stricker Impresses Again

Since the 2018 season, Steve Stricker has accumulated just six top-25 finishes in official PGA Tour events.

The 53-year old, who was ranked as high as No. 2 in the World Golf Ranking at one point, has seen a steady decline in his level of play over the years. Stricker’s last PGA Tour win came in 2012 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions when he beat Martin Laird by three strokes.

However, it has been Stricker’s week so far at TPC Scottsdale. After failing to shoot a sub-70 in his last six rounds of golf, Stricker has easily eclipsed this mark on both days at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Just like yesterday, Steve Stricker came out of the gates hot as he started on the back nine once again.

Stricker’s lone drive over 300 yards came on the par-4 11th, where he would eventually secure his first birdie of the day.

The tour veteran took advantage of both of the par-5s on the back with a birdie on holes No. 13 and 15.

After a drive into the rough on the par-4 17th, Stricker recovered nicely with a chip that left him with under eight feet for a birdie. He would step up and knock it in for birdie No. 4 on his first nine.

Stricker’s final nine was a lot less eventful than the previous stretch, as he parred six of the last nine holes. He would also add two more birdies on the front nine.

At the par-4 18th, Stricker’s drive once again found the fairway. However, his approach shot ended up in the front bunker. After a subpar chip to the back fringe, Stricker nearly saved a par. Stricker watched as his putt missed the hole and left him with just nine inches for his first bogey of the day.

Despite a closing bogey, Stricker managed to shoot a 5-under par 66. At the time of this article, he currently sits at 11-under par for the tournament, tied with Keegan Bradley for the lead.