Streelman's 'great ride' at Buick Invitational ends with a 77
SAN DIEGO -- What a week for PGA rookie Kevin Streelman, whose golf coach at Wheaton Warrenville South High didn't think he could make a career out of the game.
What a turn of events for the player who was left stranded in San Diego in 2004 by a group of investors in Chicago who suddenly stopped returning his phone calls after he failed to qualify for the Buick.
And what a difference a day makes, going from last alternate to earning a round with Tiger Woods at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.
"It's been a crazy week, that's for sure," said Streelman, 29, who was last alternate and was given the green light to play four minutes before teeing off Thursday. "It's been a difficult road. It's one where you have pitfalls and tremendous highs and lows, and in this game you lose more than you win, obviously."
Streelman shot a 5-under-par 67 in his opening round on the North Course. He then shot a jaw-dropping 69 on Friday on the tough South Course to clinch Saturday's tee time with Tiger.
Saturday's second-place start was short-lived, however, as he stumbled and shot a 75 with thunderstorms brewing off the bluffs of La Jolla.
On Sunday, Streelman beat the rain that dampened the last three groups, putting out for a par on the 18th to complete a 5-over 77 and an even-par finish for the tournament.
Woods, at 19 under, won his fourth straight victory at the Buick, setting a record for largest margin of victory.
Streelman finished tied for 29th, a slight disappointment for the second-most popular player at the seaside course.
"I was rooting for him as soon as I heard his story," Bill Baines of San Diego said Sunday. "It's a Cinderella story, a kid like him playing with Tiger. Everyone was cheering for him this week, and I'll be following him from now on."
While Streelman's family and friends back in Winfield were cheering him, his fiancée, Courtney Caples, cheered for him behind the ropes, still new to having large crowds follow her husband-to-be.
"It's been exciting, a really fun experience," Caples said. "We've both been on some crazy highs and lows, but at this point we just stand back and keep planning the next tournament. Regardless of how he did, it's been a fantastic week."
While the frustration was apparent on Streelman's face -- and in his putting on the soft greens -- he's getting right back out on the road, heading to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he has an opportunity to qualify for the FBR Open. If he does, the event practically will be in the Phoenix-based golfer's back yard.
Another positive note for Streelman: He earned $35,360 at the Buick, which doubles his career earnings ($34,478) on the PGA Tour. He also cracked the race for the FedEx Cup, scoring 219 points to rank 85th.
"I'm pretty happy about that," he said, smiling for a moment after he finished Sunday's round. "All in all it felt pretty good. I played a little spotty, but, heck, I never even expected to be out here. I gave it my best and now it's off to Arizona and Pebble Beach."
"Yeah, it's been a roller-coaster ride this week, but it was a pretty great ride."