Sometimes it’s the little things that start the chain reaction. In this case, it was a spot on the charter flight taking PGA Tour pros from the John Deere Classic to the British Open.
Without that little carrot, Steve Stricker probably wouldn’t have signed up for the John Deere Classic back in 2009. Three wins later, he could underwrite the entire flight with his winnings at Quad Cities alone.
“That charter has made a big difference,” said Stricker, who has a chance to tie the PGA Tour record for most consecutive victories at one event. “It’s actually worked out perfect.”
And then some. Tour pros joke that the tournament should be renamed the Steve Stricker Invitational presented by John Deere. “Stricker’s ATM” also has been mentioned. There’s even a Steve Stricker bobblehead doll this week, thanks to the minor-league Quad Cities Bandits.
“I don’t know if that bobblehead is too flattering,” Stricker deadpanned. “But they’re all nice gestures, don’t get me wrong.”
The last player to win four straight of the same tournament was Tiger Woods, who has done it at both Bay Hill and Torrey Pines. Before that, though, you have to go back to the 1920s – Gene Sarazen turned the trick at the Miami Open from 1926-30, preceded by Walter Hagen’s four straight PGA Championship wins from 1924-27.
Stuart Appleby was the last player not named Woods to win three straight in the same event, doing so at Kapalua from 2004-06. Before that? Woods aside, you have to go back to Tom Watson at the Byron Nelson Classic from 1978-80.
Last week: A topsy-turvy week that began with Tiger Woods missing the cut and ended with Ted Potter Jr. beating Troy Kelly in a playoff (who had those guys?) left Pick-4 declaring a lost week. Seung-Yul Noh fared best, tying for 27th. Through 26 events: Six wins, 22 top-10s.
1) Steve Stricker. Yes, the streak has to end sometime. It nearly did last year, until a miraculous birdie from a fairway bunker at the 72nd hole. But isn’t that what the other three picks are for? Stricker finds a way at TPC Deere Run, and Pick-4 doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of history.
2) Zach Johnson. The John Deere Classic is something of a fifth major for the Iowa native, and one of these days he’s actually going to win it. Johnson has finished third and second during the Stricker Streak, and he’s not that far removed from winning at Colonial and finishing runner-up twice.
3) Ryan Palmer. The Texan hasn’t finished lower than 15th since The Players, including his last outing on a tight Congressional setup at the AT&T National that seemed like it was making up for last year’s U.S. Open. Pick-4 will stick with a hot hand that’s been making plenty of birdies this year.
4) Daniel Summerhays. The Utah native has been under the radar, but caught Pick-4’s eye with his tie for fourth at Memorial and is coming off a 5th-place finish at the Greenbrier Classic. Now in his second PGA Tour go-round, he’s made twice as much cash in the past month as he did in all of 2011
