European Ryder Cup captains and teammates Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjørn won the American Family Insurance Championship, shooting a seven-under 64 in better-ball play for a four-stroke victory over four teams.
The tournament hosted by Steve Stricker — who tied for second with brother-in-law Mario Tiziani — switched to the team format this year, giving the PGA TOUR Champions its only team event.
Clarke and Bjørn finished at 32-under for the week at TPC Wisconsin, having opened with a better-ball 59 and then shot a 58 on Saturday in a Scramble round.
“We just were focused on not doing anything stupid,” Clarke said. “Like we did all we can try and give ourselves two putts, two opportunities, both hit in the fairway and we did that.”
For 56-year-old Clarke, it was a fifth success on the 50-and-over tour, while 54-year-old Bjørn won his first Champions title.
“We both are hard workers, always have been,” Bjørn said. “And obviously Darren and I, we’ve known each other for 30-plus years and been through the tour life together and played Ryder Cups together and done a lot of things together. To do this together is pretty special.”
The duo who teamed up to take down Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger in the leadoff match in the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry, kept the foot to the floor and only allowed themselves to relax when they found themselves with a four-stroke advantage playing the 18th.
“It would have been quite easy to get a little bit maybe jolly and stuff in the last few holes and maybe enjoy it a little bit more than we should have done, but there was still a job to be done,” Clarke explained. “We were still focused on what we had to do. Certainly the walk up the last when you have a four-shot lead is a very enjoyable walk, that’s a nice walk.”
Striker and Tiziani closed with a 65 to match the teams of Alex Cejka-Soren Kjeldsen (59), Doug Barron-Dicky Pride (69) and Steve Flesch-Paul Goydos (64) at 28-under.
Stricker, who is the main driving force behind the event at his home course, played through injury and is now likely to go under the knife to alleviate the pain.
“My body just isn’t feeling that well,” Stricker said. “Got some things to deal with, try to take care of it. I still enjoy playing but I don’t enjoy playing the way I feel today.”
Bernhard Langer and Steven Alker were another stroke back after a 63. Ernie Els, the winner last year in individual play, teamed with Tim Herron for a 66 that left them 26-under.
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