Kevin

Streelman

Streelman started the week just 120th in the FedExCup race. Under the old system, he would be right on the Playoffs bubble. This year only the top 70 will keep their card and advance onto the Playoffs. Talking about his shot at the post-season, “I haven’t really been expecting to be there. Just kind of like I’ve got to focus on this round and I’ve got to focus on this shot in front of me to be honest.” Was there anything that sparked this kind of play from a struggling Streelman? He mentioned that he used some 3D technology last week with his coach and found a setup error that he’s since fixed.

Streelman won the 2014 edition of the Travelers Championship and plenty of other big finishes at TPC River Highlands. So much so, that he ranks second on the tournament’s all-time money list. “I just love walking around and playing this golf course. I’ve seen so many birdies of my own out here, so I just have got a great history and just kind of a confidence around here, I would say.” Today, he pelted 16 greens in regulation, gaining 3.3 strokes on approach along the way (3rd). Streelman got off to a slow start this season but popped with top 20s in two of his last four starts and now he’s right back in the hunt of a course he really likes.

Streelman steadied 11-of-14 fairways and pelted 14 GIR. It was a strong day in the ball-striking department but he also gained 3.8 strokes with his short game. The highlight was a hole-out birdie from the greenside bunker at the par-4 16th. “Was getting the irons under the right plateaus and being aggressive when you need to be, but also being conservative when you have to be. This is a major championship golf course and it was set up that way today. I’m sure it will just get tougher as the week goes on.” If this co-lead holds then it’ll be the fifth time that Streelman has held a first-round lead or co-lead on the PGA TOUR with the most recent coming at the 2020 NORTHERN TRUST. He’s finished T53, T18, 6th, and T61 after those fast starts.

The 43-year-old, who was attempting to become the first 40-something to win on TOUR this season, endured a grueling Sunday (32 holes), which ended birdie, bogey (missed par-saver from 4'10"), birdie and a missed birdie at the last (from 9'0"), which would’ve matched playing competitor Trey Mullinax’s birdie (14'11") and forced extra time. Afterward (link below): “Man, I’m tired. I think we all are. I gave my all.” The Illinois native, the top-ranked OWGRer in the field, was vying for his first win since the 2014 Travelers 216 starts ago, but settles for his 14th career podium in 403 events, five of those runners-up, and will now take a couple of weeks off, returning at the Rocket Mortgage in Michigan. For the week, he handed in rounds of 66-64-67-67, totaled two eagles and 25 birdies against three bogeys and a double, and ranked 2nd SG: Tee-to-Green (10.579) and 6th SG: Putting (5.202), including a 0.993 SGP in R4.

The 43-year-old, making his tourney debut, arrived 14-for 23 on the season with five top 25s and one top 10, a T7 at the Valspar 10 starts ago as a former winner of the event. At 109th in the FedExCup standings, he’s in jeopardy of missing the FEC Playoffs for the first time in his 15th season on TOUR, but a high finish this week could resolve that in a hurry. The Illinois native, who’s the top-ranked player in the field this week at OWGR No. 129, penciled six birdies on 12 (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, gaining 1.470 strokes tee-to-green and 2.395 on-the-green, highlighted by three scoring conversions from between 13 and 19 feet. This is event 39 of the season and there’s yet to be a winner 40 years of age or older, and Streelman is looking for a first win since the 2014 Travelers 216 starts and over eight years ago, where he was T61 after R1 (69-68-64-64). See link below to post-round comments.

The Duke Blue Devil enters the week with a strong course resume but poor recent form. Streelman won the 2014 Travelers Championship, finished runner-up in 2020 and has three other top 10s at the event, in 14 total starts. It’s been happy hunting ground for him but in recent months he arrives with four missed cuts in his last six starts and finishes outside of the top 40 in the other two. Gamers will need to make a decision as to whether they want to follow the course history and back Streelman this week or trust the recent results and ignore him entirely for the week.

The 43-year-old won the Valspar nine years ago in 2013, after a T10 in 2012, and finally records a third top 10 eight tries later. It’s his third top 25 of the season in 14 events, second straight after a T22 at last week’s PLAYERS, and first top 10 since the same result (T7) at the 2021 Wyndham 16 starts ago. For the week, the Duke alum signed for rounds of 67-69-68-68, today’s error-free effort one of just two bogey-free rounds on Sunday (Gary Woodland), and totaled 15 birdies versus three bogeys, ranking 5th in SG: Around (4.081) and 1st in Scrambling at 88.00 percent, including a perfect 5-for-5 on Sunday. The Scottsdale resident did not qualify for the WGC-Match Play and is not in the published field at the opposite-event at Corales.

Possessing a 68.86 scoring average on the Greg Norman design, the former Duke Blue Devil has 28 rounds under his belt at Mayakoba. With top-5 finishes in 2009 and 2016, the 42-year-old arrives in solid form this time around. Making the cut at the Sanderson Farms Championship and the Shriners Children’s Open, Streelman then captured a top-50 finish at THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT. Never the course to suit him on paper, Streelman now comes to El Camaleon where he should once again find success. With some of his best finishes coming at Pebble Beach, TPC River Highlands, and the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, El Camaleon fits the same mold. While parts of his game have flashed over the first month of the season, he will need to be firing on all cylinders this week given the strong field in Mayakoba.

Streelman bookended last season on high notes, finishing in a tie for third at the then Safeway Open. Choosing to begin this season at the Sanderson Farms Championship, he hopes for the same type of result. Factoring in the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, along with numerous PGA Tour events such as the Wyndham Championship, Streelman carries last season’s momentum into this one. Making his first appearance in the Sanderson Farms Championship since 2019, the 42-year-old has taken to Country Club of Jackson. A top-20 finish in 2016 was followed up with a top-10 finish in 2017, and then a top-5 finish in 2019. If the current trajectory prevails, Streelman could find his way back into the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2014 Travelers Championship.

The Duke alum went out in 31 (4 birdies), doubled 11 (tee ball OB), rallied with birdies at 12, 15 and 17 to get to the number, but missed a par-saver at the last from 10'5". He ends the regular season at 53rd in the FedExCup standings (up 5), and has qualified for the Playoffs in every season he’s been eligible (since 2008). For the week, the 42-year-old posted laps of 66-66-68-66, tallied 22 birdies versus six bogeys and a double, and ranked 8th in SG: Off-the-Tee (3.132), 14th in SG: Approach (3.615), 46th in SG: Around (0.006), and 30th in SG: Putting (2.493). He wraps the regular season with 11 top 25s in 28 events, two straight, and four top 10s, first since T8 at the 103rd PGA Championship seven starts ago.