Steve Stricker sets 54-hole PGA mark

Associated Press

SILVIS, Ill.

Steve Stricker is making it look easy.

He insists that it’s not, even after posting stunningly low scores.

Stricker already has broken a couple of PGA Tour records at the John Deere Classic and has more in sight after opening a six-stroke lead with a 9-under-par 62 on Saturday.

That followed rounds of 60 and 66 at the TPC Deere Run course, which has stood no chance against the assault Stricker and his fellow players have launched.

“It’s never easy going out there,” Stricker said. “It wasn’t easy to start the round today. Coming to the course I felt like I’d never been in this position. I was nervous. I didn’t feel like doing anything. I just wanted to get out there and starting playing.”

And play he did.

Stricker’s masterful round left the tournament’s defending champion at 25-under 188, the best 54-hole score in PGA Tour history. He also has the best three-round score in relation to par. With a 65 Sunday, he’d break the 72-hole record of 254.

Stricker broke the 54-hole record of 189 shared by Calcavecchia, John Cook and Tommy Armour III, with Calcavecchia and Cook both 24 under. Armour also holds the 72-hole record, in the 2003 Texas Open at The Resort at LaCantera, a par-70 course.