Back-to-back bogeys likely end Stricker's bid
Silvis, Ill -- Steve Stricker just birdied the par-3 16th hole at TPC Deere Run but back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 likely ended his bid to win the John Deere Classic for a fourth consecutive year.
On the 317-yard par-4 14th, Stricker had no choice but to hit driver to put pressure on leader Troy Matteson, who hit a 3-wood just short and right of the green. But Stricker hooked his tee shot into the hazard, had to take a penalty drop and then, after pitching to 5 feet, missed the par putt. It was his first bogey of the final round.
On the par-4 15th, Stricker pulled his driver into a fairway bunker and knocked his second shot on the green, but 90 feet from the hole. He ran his first putt 10 feet by and then missed coming back for another bogey -- and his first three-putt in 154 holes on the PGA Tour.
All of a sudden, Matteson is leading oil, too. He has hit four poor chips today -- two of them on the 15th hole, which he double-bogeyed.
The leader is Zach Johnson at 19-under. Piercy and Matteson are at 18-under and Stricker and John Senden are at 17-under.
Stricker pretty much has to eagle the par-5 17th and birdie the par-4 18th to have a chance. 5
Back-to-back bogeys likely end Stricker's bid
Silvis, Ill -- Steve Stricker just birdied the par-3 16th hole at TPC Deere Run but back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 likely ended his bid to win the John Deere Classic for a fourth consecutive year.
On the 317-yard par-4 14th, Stricker had no choice but to hit driver to put pressure on leader Troy Matteson, who hit a 3-wood just short and right of the green. But Stricker hooked his tee shot into the hazard, had to take a penalty drop and then, after pitching to 5 feet, missed the par putt. It was his first bogey of the final round.
On the par-4 15th, 
Stricker pulled his driver into a fairway bunker and knocked his second shot on the green, but 90 feet from the hole. He ran his first putt 10 feet by and then missed coming back for another bogey -- and his first three-putt in 154 holes on the PGA Tour.
All of a sudden, Matteson is leading oil, too. He has hit four poor chips today -- two of them on the 15th hole, which he double-bogeyed.
The leader is Zach Johnson at 19-under. Piercy and Matteson are at 18-under and Stricker and John Senden are at 17-under.
Stricker pretty much has to eagle the par-5 17th and birdie the par-4 18th to have a chance. 5