Stricker goes for history this weekend at the John Deere

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Steve Stricker of Madison can make pro golf history this weekend. He’ll try to become the fifth player ever to win the same P-G-A tournament four times in a row, when the John Deere Classic begins today in Silvis Illinois near the Quad Cities. Last year, Stricker blew a five-stroke lead on the final day at the T-P-C Deere Run – and he needed a pair of birdies on the final two holes to win the John Deere trophy. That made him the 17th player in Tour history to win the same event three straight times. Only Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Tom Morris, and Tiger Woods have won the same tournament four times in succession. The 45-year-old Stricker says he feels somewhat relaxed, even though there’s more on the line. He says he enjoys playing in the John Deere, he’s comfortable with the course, and he knows what to expect. David Duval, a P-G-A veteran who’s won 13 tournaments, says it’s hard to win an event once – and doing it four times is exponentially more difficult.

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