Stricker wins after late charge

Steve Stricker made four birdies in the last four holes to win The Barclays by two shots from KJ Choi. On the European Tour Ross Fisher birdied the last and was then forced to wait on a rules decision before celebrating a one shot victory in the KLM Open.

HARRISON, NY - AUGUST 26: Steve Stricker poses with the trophy after winning The Barclays, the inaugural event of the new PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup with a 16 under par at Westchester Country Club August 26, 2007 in Harrison, New York. (Photo by M. Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
By Paul O'Hagan
published

Steve Stricker claimed his first win in four years and gained maximum FedEx Cup points in Westchester, New York.

The 40-year-old American took a one shot lead into the final round but things were close on the back nine with ten players separated by five shots at the top. KJ Choi supplied the most pressure by holing a 45-foot putt on 12 and a 50-foot putt on 15 to move to the top of the leaderboard. Stricker played some great golf to close the tournament and birdied 17 to take the lead and then made a birdie four at the last to finish with a two shot advantage.

After playing the tournament in 1996 Stricker had vowed never to return but his win this week earns him $1.26m.

The Barclays

-16 S Stricker (US)

-14 KJ Choi (S Kor)

-13 R Sabbatini (SA)

-12 M Calcavecchia, G Ogilvy (Aus), E Els (SA)

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Fisher wins KLM Open

Englishman Ross Fisher shot a final round of 67 to win the KLM Open by one but had to wait on a late ruling before celebrating victory.

After his round officials studied a video of Fisher on the 12th. The 26-year-old attempted to move a bramble because he thought it was a loose impediment only to find it still attached to the ground. He left the bramble but officials had to decide whether he had improved his lie and stance. After studying the tape and driving back to the 12th with Fisher officials found no rule to be broken and the Englishman was crowned as champion.

"I feel very privileged that they said to me 'You haven't done anything wrong, you're the winner'," he said.

Fisher began the day with a share of the lead with fellow Englishman David Carter. While Carter fell back Fisher made four birdies to move into a commanding lead. He then looked nervous during the final stages and dropped shots at 16 and 17 to find himself tied with home favourite Joost Luiten. A superb birdie down the last made Fisher the 16th first time winner on the European Tour this season.

KLM Open

-12 R Fisher (Eng)

-11 J Luiten (Ned),

-8 S Alker (Eng), A Forsyth (Sco), B Langer (Ger), T Levet (Fra), A Noren (Swe)

Paul O'Hagan
Paul joined Golf Monthly in 2006 in a junior role and has since worked as senior staff writer and now as technical editor. He writes equipment and instruction content and tests the vast majority of golf clubs that are introduced every year.
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