STEADY Steve Stricker drove the ball with clinical accuracy to take the $1.5 million Kemper Open by three strokes in Potomac, Maryland, yesterday, shedding his tag as one of the best players never to have won on the PGA Tour.
Stricker missed only one fairway on his way to a three-under-par 68 in a steady drizzle at the Avenel TPC. He finished at 14-under 270.
Stricker, 29, collected $270,000 for his overdue first victory, and jumped to 11th on this year's money list.
"It was an emotional day. It's a great win for both of us," said Stricker, whose wife Nicki is his full-time caddie.
Stricker teed off one stroke behind overnight leader Jay Williamson, who faded to finish equal 23rd after a 79.
Stricker broke to a three-shot lead with an eagle at the par-five sixth, where he drilled a six-iron to two feet, and he was always ahead from that point.
However, it was not exactly smooth sailing all the way. He bogeyed the ninth, and could not start celebrating until he birdied the 16th from 10 feet, and then safely found the green with his tee shot at the dangerous par-three 17th.
Meanwhile, Corey Pavin had the day's best round, a course record-equalling 63 that lifted him from 54th to equal 10th at seven-under 277.
