Ernie Els closed with a seven-under-par 65 on Sunday to finish runner-up in the year’s first senior major championship, the Regions Tradition at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama.
It was a bogey-free closer for Els, but it was not enough to chase down the winner, Steve Stricker of the United States. Stricker also had a closing 65 and he finished on 23-under-par, six clear of Els and of Robert Karlsson of Sweden. Jerry Kelly of the United States finished fourth on 16-under, one behind Els and Karlsson.
Stricker tied the Regions Tradition record with a 23-under 265, and it was his third win at the Regions Tradition in five starts – all by six shots. It gave the 56-year-old five major wins, sixth-most on the 50-and-over circuit. He also has two runner-up finishes in that span on the par-72 Founders Course at Greystone.
Retief Goosen closed with a one-under-par 71 for a share of 50th on one-over for the tournament, and David Frost had a fourth-round two-over 74 for a share of 63rd on six-over.
