Solid Stricker rules Deere Classic by 3

SILVIS, Illinois – Steve Stricker followed one of his best performances with 36 solid holes to win the John Deere Classic by three strokes on Sunday.

Stricker, who tied the course record Saturday, fired a 7-under 64 in the fourth round after starting the day with a third-round 68 to finish at 264 for the tournament. That was good enough to give him his second PGA Tour win this year and sixth in all, not to mention a heavy dose of momentum heading into the British Open to go with the $774,000 winnner’s check. He also moved to second behind Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings.

Local favorite Zach Johnson (64, 66), Brandt Snedeker (68, 65) and Brett Quigley (62, 67) all tied for second at 17 under. Quigley also qualified for the British Open, but he won’t be making the trip to Turnberry.

Instead, he’s going to Milwaukee and will attend the memorial for golfer Chris Smith’s wife Beth, who was killed last month in an auto crash that critically injured their two children. (AP)