What I'll Remember about '11: Stricker's crazy shot

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PGATOUR.COM asked its staffers and freelancers what they will remember about the 2011 season. For the archived list of essays, click here.

The shot was basically impossible. The ball was well below Steve Stricker's feet in a bunker. There's a huge lake in front of the green, and bogey is staring him in the face.

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It's the 72nd hole of the John Deere Classic, and I figure rookie Kyle Stanley -- a kid I've admired since his dominating days at Clemson -- has got this wrapped up.

Hey, Stricker winning three years in a row at TPC Deere Run is a good story, but this Stanley kid is going to finish par-par ... and that will be it. Another rookie winner. Even though Stanley messed up his drive on the 72nd hole, Stricker was in worse shape. He'd driven it in the left bunker, and the ball was way below his feet. It's the type of shot a 10-handicapper can't even move 25 yards. At best, we'll have a playoff.

But Stricker did a weird thing. He pictured the shot, set his feet, and hooked a 180-yard 6-iron that settled 20 feet away from the pin.

I can still hear CBS' David Feherty sounding amazed when the ball left Stricker's clubface.

"Heck of a line," Feherty said as the ball was in the air.

At that point, because he's Steve Stricker, you realize that he'd probably going to make the putt, and that is exactly what happened.

In short, it was the best escape I've seen since Phil Mickelson at Augusta.