STEVE STRICKER HERE WITH 2010 TROPHY, REPEATED THE CEREMONY
AGAIN AFTER PULLING OFF A THREE PEAT AT THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

It didn't take long, Steve Stricker wasted no time setting the tone in the
final round, when he birdied the first hole on Sunday. His playing partner
Brendon de Jonge made double bogey on the first hole and Strickers
lead was quickly 3 shots.

Even with making a shocking double bogey on the 4th hole, there was
little doubt all day that Stricker wouldn't close the deal and pull off the
three-peat last done by Tiger Woods when he rolled off four straight
at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines from 2005-2008.

All day long Strickers lead bounced from one shot to as many as five
shots, but the outcome became apparent early, especially after a long
50 foot birdie putt on the 9th hole.

Then it all changed. Just like that kyle Stanley came from nowhere
and birdied five holes on the back nine. Stricker struggled and left
a ball buried in the greenside bunker on the par 3 16th. He didn't get
out and made bogey his second in a row. Stricker had blown a five
shot lead and was down two shots with two holes to play.

The fate changed again. Stanlet made only par on the par 5 17th after
a drive into the trees. He made bogey from lipping out a 9 foot putt
on 18 after another drive into the trees. Stricker had a chance again
and took advantage. Birdies of 18 feet on 17, and then after blasting
from a fairway bunker to just off the back off the green. Stricker
Pulled out the putter anyway and drained a 25 footer for the dramatic
win. Three-Peat accomplished.

The only question now is what the famed billboard will read next year
when one drives into the quad cities in the weeks before tournament
time. (To see billboard visit our Sun morning game column today)
Tournament Director Clair Peterson admitted during round 4 that if
Strickers lead holds up, that the billboard idea is already in his head.
Peterson said the idea came to him on Saturday, as Stricker took the
lead during round three.

The Golf Channel approached Peterson as Stricker made the turn
with a five shot lead, and promoted the concept of launching hundreds
of green John Deere Hats onto the 18th green in honor of an expected
"Hat-Trick".

John Deere Classic board member Zach Johnson made another Sunday
run moving up the leader to finish T-3 with Matt McQuillan.

DA Points couldn't make a charge, so the Illini alum will not go to the
British Open and will take two weeks off.

TO HEAR INTERVIEWS WITH KYLE STANLEY AND CHAMPION
STEVE STRICKER CLICK HERE:

Download | Duration: 00:06:30

Stricker felt for Stanley, the two can now exchange thoughts on the plane
ride to London. Stanleys consolation prize was a trip to Royal St. Georges.

Good luck in England all, in the meantime the king of the Quad Cities
rules again, next year maybe it will be a Stricker slam.