The 43rd edition of the US Senior Open got underway at the renowned SentryWorld Golf Course in Central Wisconsin on Thursday. The coveted event boasts a stacked field of 156 players, including past champions Padraig Harrington, Kenny Perry, Bernhard Langer, and more!

One PGA Tour veteran and Wisconsin hero, however, saw a stunning record slip away in the opening round of the tournament. Let’s dive in to find out more!

Former US Senior Open winner suffers a setback at SentryWorld

56-year-old Steve Stricker is unarguably the hottest golfer on the PGA Tour Champions at the moment. In 12 starts this season, Stricker has already scripted five wins! His blistering form has also led him to victories at two back-to-back majors this year, the Regions Tradition and the Senior PGA Championship.

On Thursday, the Madison resident descended upon SentryWorld with the hopes of registering his third major win of the season. However, his plans soon hit a roadblock. In his first round, the former Ryder Cup captain shot a 1-over 72, ending his Tour-record 55 consecutive rounds at par or better.

Things had gotten off to a good start for Stricker in his home state. He was among the four players who did not bogey at least one hole on the front nine. However, things soon took a turn for the worse as he double bogeyed the par-5 10th and par-3 12th holes. “I doubled 10, and it’s probably ranked one of the easier holes out there today,” the golfer confessed following his not-so-memorable performance.

Also Read: After Winning the $3.5 Million Major, Steve Stricker and His ‘Super’ Caddie’s Special Moment Captures Golf World’s Heart: ‘Just Love This’

Just weeks ago, the 2019 US Senior Open winner surpassed Tiger Woods‘ record of 52 consecutive rounds under par. It was an incredible achievement, considering Stricker has never won a major in his career.

Tiger Woods’ unbelievable record is overhauled by Steve Stricker

Tiger Woods was at the pinnacle of his career during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Amidst his many PGA Tour victories and major wins, the golfing legend also scripted 52 consecutive rounds under par, a record that remained unbroken until 2023.

Stricker accomplished the feat en route to a victory at the American Family Insurance Championship earlier this month. He had fired a 7-under-par 65 in the event’s first round, his 53rd consecutive round of par or better! The PGA Tour pro’s record also drew comparisons to other sporting accomplishments across the globe. These include Wayne Gretzky’s 51-game point run in hockey or Drew Brees’ spell of 54 consecutive games with an NFL passing touchdown!

Stricker is currently ranked T15 on the leaderboard of the 2023 US Senior Open. Despite his first-round setback, he will be hoping to bounce back on Friday. The US Senior Open has a prize purse of $4,000,000, out of which the winner stands to take home $720,000.

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Do you think Steve Stricker will be able to get his third consecutive senior major win at SentryWorld? Tell us in the comments!