Forget about Mr. October, that is if you even remember him since he retired in 1987, Mr. September is on grounds. Steve Stricker took over the lead in the FedEx cup race, and the number two spot in the World Golf Rankings with a birdie birdie finish to win the Deuschte Bank Championship. Since the inception of the year end playoff format in 2007 no one, not even Tiger Woods, has played better in September than Mr. Stricker. Ten events, no worse than 25th place, including six top tens and two wins.
Last week he missed a 10 foot put on the 72nd green to get into a playoff, finishing instead tied for second. This week, a different story and his third win of the year. “We’re taking up space in his world,” Stricker said on Monday after shooting a 4-under 67 to win at TPC of Boston. “We all know who the guy is out here. I’m just happy to be in the position I’m at and with the opportunity to do something special for myself. He’s done enough other special things, maybe let somebody else do something special.” Special indeed.
The Tiger Woods imitation of Sergio Garcia continued this week on the greens in Boston. Mr. Woods continued to hit quality shot after quality shot leaving himself what seemed like birdie putts inside of 15 feet on 90% of the holes only to make nothing. I suppose the comparison to Mr. Garcia is unfair, as Mr. Woods does not appear any where near as tentative as the Spaniard. It’s the results that match, mostly misses. On Monday Mr. Woods went out and finished before any of the leaders got started and fired as quiet a 63 as he’s ever scored. Could have be a 60 or even 59 had he made a couple of putts, but that’s the kind of year it’s been, a more humanized version of the Terminator.
As for the final round, there were a lot of challengers along the way; Padraig Harrington was in the hunt again, until his tee shots began resembling a NASCAR race, left turn, straight, left turn left turn, straight, left turn. Hard to score when you keep hitting them where you can’t play them, and yet Mr. Harrington still shot a 3 under par 68 and finished tied for fourth. Ah Paddy, if only ye hadn’t turned left so often. Jason Dufner (there is just something not right about a golfer whose last name contains a word no golfer ever wants to hear) who missed the cut in four of his last six events, finished tied for second a shot back for his sixth top ten of the year. I have to say this about Mr. Dufner, he plays the game quickly and just smashes the ball. Kinda fun to watch. Scott Verplank have five birdies on his last six holes, and had he not bogeyed the 14th hole would have tied for the lead. Still and all it was a stellar finish for Mr. Verplank and his gauzetek wrapped putter.
Now we head to the Western Open BMW Championship at Cog Hill, to a course that has undergone a $5 million facelift since the tournament was last played here in 2007 in an effort to bring a US Open to the Chicago area again. Mr. Stricker won here in 1996, and Mr. Woods has won here three times. So while the course may be different than it was in 2007, it would be foolish to dismiss the No. 1 and 2 players in the field. (what do you suppose the odds are of finishing tied 2, first and first in three successive playoff events? I don’t think I’d bet the farm on Mr. Stricker this week, no disrespect intended. Now Mr. Woods, that is another matter. I’d certainly bet on Mr. September finishing in the top ten this week.)
Here’s a thought, if Mr. Stricker were to win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, would he be a better candidate for Player of the Year than Mr. Woods? How odd a scenario would that be, twice Comeback Player of the Year and then Player of the Year. Only a cheesehead.
