AP

Steve Stricker shot a combined 20-under par over four days on the front nine at Murfield Village to give him enough of a cushion to hold off Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe and win his 10th PGA Tour event on Jack Nicklaus’ course.

Stricker’s stellar play on the front nine included rounds of 33, 30, 31 and 30, enough to allow for a little slippage on the incoming nine holes in which he shot four-over throughout the week to leave him at 16-under for the tournament.

With the win, Stricker moved up the world rankings to No. 4, which at this point in time makes him the highest ranking American player in the world. However, when asked in the post-round press conference, during which the tournament host, Jack Nicklaus, sits next to the winner, Stricker was adamant that he is by no means a superstar in the golfing world or among American fans.

The khaki-wearing cheesehead from Wisconsin would much rather lay that burden on his fellow countrymen as he would just as well plod along and do his thing.

“No. No I don’t,” Stricker said. “I don’t look at myself any differently. I just go out and play, and I try to play well. And I’m on a great run these last five or six years, and I just want to continue it.”

The Golden Bear had a different take. One that sees the gentile Badger as a superstar, but not simply because of his ability.

“He’s a superstar in more ways than his golf game,” Nicklaus said. “I think he’s been a superstar from the way he’s behaved himself, the way he handles his game, the way he handles people and the way he handles fans. He’s always done that. And that, to me, is equally as important as how well you score. I’ve always felt that about Steve.”

Taking a four-shot lead into the final round, it seemed all Stricker had to do was what he had been doing, namely, play well on the front and hold it together on the back.

Unfortunately for Stricks, Kuchar and Jobe weren’t going to let him go out and shoot a conservative even-par 72, he would have to earn it. Both Kuchar and Jobe going out before the leader Stricker shot front nine 31s, letting the top-ranked American that this would be no walk in the park.

No matter. All Stricker did was go out and best them, going out in 30, carrying his lead into the back nine that had been his Achilles heel all week.

An improbable par save on the par-3 12th hole in which Stricker hit what David Feherty called the best bunker shot he’s ever seen. Sitting dead in the bunker behind the green, Stricker had a few options facing him, neither of which seemed ideal. Hitting out away from the flag would more than likely see the ball roll off the front and into another bunker. A slight miscue in blasting out of the bunker towards the flag could see his ball fall off to the side of the cup and drop in the water.

“My only play was to throw it up there in the fringe and hopefully, it came out and got on the green,” Stricker said. “I was just looking to get a 10-foot putt at it, and I almost made it.”

Nicklaus told Stricker it was the best shot he played all week. ”There might have been a little luck involved in that,” Stricker said modestly.

Following the incredible up-and-down, Stricker was forced to mull over his lead for about two and a half hours as thunderstorms halted play. Finally, around 7 p.m., play resumed. Kuchar and Jobe both kept the pressure on the 44-year-old Stricker shooting two-under on the back nine and finishing at 15-under for the tournament.

After bogeying the 15th due to a bad drive, Stricker’s lead was only two with some potential for dropped shots coming down the stretch. His silky putting stroke kept Stricker’s lead afloat dropping a 15-footer for par on 16 and a seven-footer for par on 17. The tricky dogleg 18th hole, required only a bogey to win by one. Stricker did just that, making a bogey five to win Jack’s tournament.

He crossed to green to shake hands and get a hug from the greatest player to ever pick up a club, something that Stricker always wanted to do.

“You’ve seen so many guys do that over the years, the winners coming off the green and getting greeted by Mr. Nicklaus,” Stricker said. “And you always think one day that could be you. And it turned out it was me this year. It’s a great thrill. It’s a dream come true.”

Along with the 10th win of his career and moving up to No. 4 in the world rankings, Stricker cashed a $1.1 million winner’s check and moved up to 11th in the FedEx Cup rankings. Stricker is not in the field at this week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, so the next time we will see him will be in a week’s time outside of the nation’s capital at Congressional for the US Open, an event Nicklaus thinks Stricker could win.

“I don’t know why he hasn’t won a major yet, but as long as he wants to play, the next couple, three years or even this year, the way he’s playing, watch out at Congressional or watch out someplace. He’ll get there.”