How is going Tiger Woods at the Deutsche Bank golf tournament?
NORTON, Mass. — Steve Stricker can build a strong case for the Deutsche Bank Championship as the biggest victory of his career. It was his first victory with top-ranked Tiger Woods in the field. Stricker’s third title of the season moved him up to a career-high No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking. And he replaced Woods atop the FedEx Cup standings. What satisfied Stricker the most, though, was how he won. In a wild Labor Day finish on the TPC Boston, where a half-dozen players came to the par-5 18th hole with realistic hopes of winning, Stricker finished with back-to-back birdies for a 4-under-par 67 and a one-shot victory Monday. “Knowing I had to make a couple of birdies and actually doing it means a lot,” the 42-year-old Stricker said. Stricker finished at 17-under 267 and earned $1.35 million. Scott Verplank (67) had birdies on the last four holes and tied Jason Dufner (65) for second place in the second of four PGA Tour Playoff tournaments. The top 70 players in FedEx Cup poi
Norton, MA — First, little-known Y.E. Yang beat up on Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship. Then, unheralded Heath Slocum slammed the door on the world’s number one golfer at The Barclays. * View photos of Tiger Woods’ frustrating first round at TPC Boston Yesterday, Steve Stricker said he’d “gotten over” whatever other-worldy aura Woods had that somehow intimidated his PGA Tour playing partner into submission. “I am comfortable playing with him,” Stricker said after firing an 8-under 63 during the first round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. “I guess I’m comfortable with what I’m doing, and I’m really not worrying about him.” Gasp! Not worrying about the world’s top-ranked golfer? What in the name of Jack Nicklaus is going on? Game on. For Stricker, who has two wins and nine top-10s this year, it’s his rejuvenated game. Conceding that his playing “didn’t stack up” when Woods first joined the tour, Stricker said that’s all behind him now. “I’m over that,” said the numbe
