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Steve Stricker won the John Deere Classic for the second straight year on Sunday, holding on for a two-shot victory after leading by seven strokes

Stricker couldn’t match the shot-making that allowed him to record the lowest 54-hole total in PGA Tour history. But he came through with a critical birdie after driving into the trees on No. 17 – the second straight day he put his ball there – and closed with a 1-under-par 70, just enough to beat Paul Goydos.

Stricker finished with a 258 – 26 under and a record for the tournament. Goydos, who dazzled the golf world with his 59 in the opening round, shot a solid 66 but still fell short of dethroning Stricker, who won for the second time this year and ninth time in his career.

Jeff Maggert shot a 70 to finish six strokes behind.

Stricker led by six at the start of the day and quickly bumped the lead to seven with a 7-foot birdie putt on the first hole. But he had to battle through the rest of the round before essentially sealing his victory at 17.

After driving into the trees right of the fairway, Stricker punched out to 91 yards, right in front of the green, then knocked his next shot to six feet. Measuring the putt carefully, Stricker tapped the ball and as fans yelled ”Get in the hole,” it dropped.

Goydos also birdied the hole to stay two behind, but his last hope died when he hit into the water on 18. Stricker bogeyed the hole after laying up and hitting into the left rough, but it didn’t matter – he was a champion again

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/Steve-Stricker-John-Deere-Classic-win-071110