Steve Stricker hadn't won a tournament all year, but there was no place like the Sanford International for him to fix that.
Stricker defeated Australian Richard Green on their fourth playoff hole to win the Sanford for the third year running Sunday in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Stricker became the first player to pull off a three-peat at an event on the PGA Tour and one on the PGA Tour Champions, according to the tour. Stricker won the 2009, 2010 and 2011 John Deere Classic.
But Minnehaha Country Club has been especially good to Stricker, who has now won there four times in seven seasons. He captured the 2018 Sanford International during his first full year on the 50-and-older circuit.
Stricker, 57, took home six trophies in 2023 but hadn't broken through in 2024 until Sunday. It marked the first time he won an event since his father passed in January.
"I was trying to win one so bad," Stricker said through tears during his Golf Channel interview. "He was the guy who showed me the game, and I owe him everything, really. We miss him a lot.
"I was putting some extra pressure on myself to try to win one and just dedicate a win to him and finally did ... This one's for my dad."
“I love you, Dad.” ❤️
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 15, 2024
This is @SteveStricker’s first win since his father passed away in January.
Steve dedicated this victory to him. pic.twitter.com/XHEgVt7c68
Stricker shot a 3-under-par 67 Sunday to finish 72 holes in 8-under 202. But he bogeyed his final hole, opening the door for Green to force a playoff by birdieing the last.
Green did just that, making a mid-length uphill putt at the par-4 18th to polish off his round of 1-under 69.
They replayed No 18 again and again until Stricker finally one-upped Green. Hitting his second shot out of the rough, Stricker put it on the perfect line and watched his ball speed toward the cup and hit the flagstick. That left him just a few feet to clean up for birdie, and Green could not match it.
Germany's Bernhard Langer and South Africa's Ernie Els each shot 67 Sunday and tied for third at 7 under, one back of Stricker and Green. Steven Alker of New Zealand (67) and Michael Wright of Australia (72) tied for fifth at 6 under.