Streelman enjoys spotlight

SAN DIEGO -- Defending champ Tiger Woods may be running away with the Buick Invitational with an 8-stroke lead, but on Saturday, Kevin Streelman was the fan favorite.

The Wheaton native wrapped up the third round with an hour-long autograph session, long after Woods had left the course.

The PGA rookie approached each hole with a wide smile, without a trace of doubt on his face. Golf fans took notice, rewarding Streelman with cheers, shouts and a few standing ovations, even though he fell from second to a tie for 11th by the end of the day.

Streelman, 29, started the day off strong -- his first shot off the tee flew past Tiger's, and a second shot put him within 4 feet of the pin. However, Streelman missed his putt, a pattern that would haunt him all day.

He looked strong on the front nine, shooting par or better on his first eight holes to advance to 9-under. His only blemish was the ninth hole, where he shot a disappointing double-bogey after his second shot flew past the green.

"I guess it was the adrenaline," Streelman said. "I juiced it. It was bad news, but I hung in there."

Though he made 3 bogeys on the back nine, he also shot a birdie and almost sunk a chip shot from the 18th hole, where he received a standing ovation from the vocal crowd.

"Yeah, that was pretty cool, but they really went crazy on the 13th," Streelman said. "I was the first one on the green, and as I came up over the rise they started cheering me. Then I pumped my fists, and that's when they really went crazy."

Kevin's father Dennis Streelman, of Winfield, said he wasn't surprised that his son was so gracious with fans and at ease with the media attention.

"Kevin's always been like that," Dennis Streelman said. "People seem to like him, and Kevin has always made time to stop and talk with people who come out to cheer him on. We're really proud of him."

In retrospect, Streelman said he learned an important lesson today -- that he can hang with the best of the best.

"I played pretty darn good for kind of being thrown into the fire like that," said Streelman, "but that's how it is on the tour, no matter what happens. It's a constant learning experience."

Dennis Streelman said he was surprised his son missed so many putts today, because the proud father said he's typically a strong putter.

"I haven't seen him hit 36 putts in quite awhile, that was unusual for him," he said.

As far as fans went, Streelman earned kudos from Tiger himself.

"I think Kevin did great," Woods said at the end of the day. "He just had one bad hole there at nine which kind of derailed him a little bit. I think it would have been probably a different story if he had made the putt on the first hole to get the round started early. But overall he handled himself great."

Weather permitting, Streelman will tee off with Carl Pettersson and John Senden at 11:34 a.m. Central, but Saturday's round with Woods and Stewart Cink, along with the cheering fans, will be forever etched in his mind.

"It was the coolest day ever," Streelman said. "It was a dream come true, but you know, I hope it's not my last time. It's just inspirational for me as a professional golfer, and I definitely want another shot at it."