Steve Stricker wins Tournament of Champions

Steve Stricker of the USA survived a final round wobble to win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Hawaii by three shots from Scotland’s Martin Laird.

Steve Stricker wins Tournament of Champions (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
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Steve Stricker of the USA survived a final round wobble to win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Hawaii by three shots from Scotland's Martin Laird.

Stricker began the last round five shots ahead of Martin Laird, Jonathan Byrd and Webb Simpson. But after just six holes that lead was down to one. Both Laird and Byrd fired three birdies in the first third of the round while Stricker could do no better than five pars and a bogey.

But the American knuckled down from that point onwards. He rapped in a long birdie putt on the par-3 8th before a tap-in birdie at the next. Three further birdies on the back nine were enough to ensure the title was his.

"It was tough," said Stricker. "I never let up today. It's always tough trying to win, and it's even more tough when you have a lead like I did. I'm very proud of what I did today."

It was his ninth PGA Tour win since he turned 40 and his 12th overall. It has moved him to fifth on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Scotland's Martin Laird birdied the final hole to secure second place on his own. He was pleased with his performance and full of admiration for the champion.

"I think probably the most underrated player in the world is Steve Stricker," he said.

For much of the back nine Jonathan Byrd looked the man most likely to upset Stricker's march to victory. He was only two behind on the 16th when he knocked his approach shot in close. But Stricker matched his accuracy and both converted for birdie. When Byrd made a bogey at the 17th, his chance was gone.

Byrd finished tied for third with Webb Simpson, four ahead of K.J. Choi and Harrison Frazar who were tied fifth.

Hyundai Tournament of Champions Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii Jan 6-9, purse $5,600,000, par 73

1   Steve Stricker (USA)   68   63   69   69   269   $1,120,000 2   Martin Laird (Sco)   68   70   67   67   272   $650,000 T3   Jonathan Byrd (USA)   67   71   67   68   273   $369,000 T3   Webb Simpson (USA)   68   68   69   68   273   $369,000 T5   K.J. Choi (Kor)      70   73   69   65   277   $245,000 T5   Harrison Frazar (USA)   74   69   66   68   277   $245,000 T7   Chris Kirk (USA)      75   66   70   67   278   $190,000 T7   Bryce Molder (USA)   71   70   67   70   278   $190,000 T9   Ben Crane (USA)      72   71   68   68   279   $165,000 T9   Rory Sabbatini (RSA)   73   70   68   68   279   $165,000 T9   Johnson Wagner (USA)   72   72   68   67   279   $165,000

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

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Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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