Steve Stricker won the Northern Trust Open with a final round 70 on the Riviera Country Club course in Pacific Palisades, California. He was two shots better than Luke Donald, who shot 66 in the final round. The win also puts Stricker in the number two spot on the Official World Golf Rankings, replacing Phil Mickelson in the spot behind Tiger Woods.
Stricker led by six shots at the start of the final round and Donald applied pressure early with birdies in three of his first six holes. That six shot lead became two after Stricker made bogey on the fourth hole. But, Stricker regrouped and made birdies on the eighth, ninth and 11th holes to reclaim some cushion heading down the stretch.
Stricker would finish with pars after a bogey on the 12th hole dropped him to 16-under par. Donald made birdies on the 13th and 17th holes to get to 14-under par and finish a shot better than Dustin Johnson and J. B. Holmes. Johnson pulled into contention after making four birdies over five holes in the middle of the round but, a bogey on the 13th hole stalled his momentum. He had one last chance to make a run at Stricker with two near perfect shots on the par-5, 17th hole. He left the eagle putt short and made birdie to get to 13-under par. Holmes was even-par through 10 holes and finished with birdies on the 11th and 15th holes, adding an eagle on the 17th hole.
Steve Marino finished tied for fifth place with Paul Goydos, Andres Romero and George McNeill. Ricky Barnes took ninth place with Ernie Els, Kevin Na, Kevin Stadler, Alex Prugh and Jason Bohn finishing tied for 10th place at eight-under par.
Two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson struggled through the weekend, finishing with a final round 73 to fall to 45th place. He was one-under par through 11 holes but then made bogey on the 12th, 14th, 15th an 16th holes. He did make a birdie on the 17th to finish on somewhat of a high note.
Stricker wins Northern Trust Open
Stricker led by six shots at the start of the final round and Donald applied pressure early with birdies in three of his first six holes. That six shot lead became two after Stricker made bogey on the fourth hole. But, Stricker regrouped and made birdies on the eighth, ninth and 11th holes to reclaim some cushion heading down the stretch.
Stricker would finish with pars after a bogey on the 12th hole dropped him to 16-under par. Donald made birdies on the 13th and 17th holes to get to 14-under par and finish a shot better than Dustin Johnson and J. B. Holmes. Johnson pulled into contention after making four birdies over five holes in the middle of the round but, a bogey on the 13th hole stalled his momentum. He had one last chance to make a run at Stricker with two near perfect shots on the par-5, 17th hole. He left the eagle putt short and made birdie to get to 13-under par. Holmes was even-par through 10 holes and finished with birdies on the 11th and 15th holes, adding an eagle on the 17th hole.
Steve Marino finished tied for fifth place with Paul Goydos, Andres Romero and George McNeill. Ricky Barnes took ninth place with Ernie Els, Kevin Na, Kevin Stadler, Alex Prugh and Jason Bohn finishing tied for 10th place at eight-under par.
Two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson struggled through the weekend, finishing with a final round 73 to fall to 45th place. He was one-under par through 11 holes but then made bogey on the 12th, 14th, 15th an 16th holes. He did make a birdie on the 17th to finish on somewhat of a high note.