MADISON (Wisconsin) – Steve Stricker said, modestly, that he hoped the excellent play he has been displaying in recent weeks would continue on Friday at University Ridge Golf Course, giving him the chance to win his first American Family Insurance Championship.
Stricker played well, but Justin Leonard took the lead on day one. Leonard shot a 10-under-par 62 course record to grab the first-day title. Leonard, 50 made a loud debut at the AmFam Championship. He played to the audience as he poured in his 10th birdie on the 17th.
“I didn’t have a score in mind when I played.” Leonard is poised to win his first PGA Tour Champions individual event. “That’s the kind of goal, just to get lost during the round. “I was able do that sort of on the weekend the Senior PGA, and fortunately that bridged over those two weeks to today.”
Leonard’s career low 61 was achieved on the PGA Tour in 2001, during the Byron Nelson Classic and 2003, at Colonial.
He quipped, “I don’t think I can hit the ball every day like I did today. But I will certainly try to put myself in a mindset that allows me to do it more than once every twenty years.”
Stricker’s stellar shot-making, and his consistent putting, have not just been a wish or a thought. The Madison resident, who broke Tiger Woods PGA Tour sanctioned record for consecutive rounds of par or better, in the opening round on Friday, with a score of 7-under-65, has proven that it is possible to achieve both.
Stricker will be the first Tour Champions player to go 53 consecutive rounds without going over par. This starts at the U.S. Senior Open in 2022. Woods played 52 consecutive rounds on the PGA Tour between 2000-01.
Stricker stated, “I saw Justin Leonard go deep and that motivated me to get as many birdsies as I could because you don’t wanna fall too far behind.” Stricker said, “It wasn’t on my mind, but I am proud of myself for passing Tiger Woods.” I would have preferred to do that on the regular Tour, but doing it here is also very special.
Stricker admitted before the tournament that he was very excited about the event, but he had to learn to deal with the corporate and social requirements. It looked good for him to do it in the first round.
He joked that he had to maintain his focus at the annual concert of the tournament’s hosts on Friday night.
He said, “I’m going to the concert first, but I told myself that there was a limit.” “I won’t tell you the limit, but I’m sure there is one.” There are more than one, but fewer than six.
“But no, friends are coming.” It’s a great place to be and it’s fun to see my friends there. Everyone is enjoying themselves, so I can’t help but join in. “I’ll be there but I have learned my lesson.”
Stricker was in a group with six other players, all within four shots of Leonard. Paul Broadhurst and Marco Dawson joined Stricker on 7-under, while Paul Stankowski finished with a 6-under.
Leonard is five behind Colin Montgomerie (David McKenzie), Davis Love III and David McKenzie.
Stricker’s historical streak 53
@stevestricker has now had the most consecutive rounds at par or better on @PGATOUR in history. @TigerWoods held the previous record of 52. pic.twitter.com/k6LjlbsUOO
PGA TOUR Champions June 9, 2020
Jerry Kelly, a two-time champion of the tournament and a fellow Madison resident, finished with an even par 72 after returning an old set irons to his bag. He turned at 1-over, and had two birdies to one bogey on the back nine.
He said, “I was a sucka.” It was not good. I didn’t know what happened to the game, but I couldn’t locate it all day. Everything was gone. I couldn’t chip or putt. “I’ll try a little bit of work here and see what happens.”
Milwaukee’s Skip Kendall opened with a 2-under-70, while Madison Mario Tiziani shot a 3-over-75.
