NORTHERN TRUST OPEN REPORT

Stricker rises to World No 2

after holding off Donald's

last- round challenge

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Luke Donald shot a final-round 66 at Riviera Country Club, at Pacific Palisades, California on Sunday but could not prevent Steve Stricker from holding on for victory at the Northern Trust Open.
American Stricker, who will be 43 on February 27, claimed a two-shot win over the Englishman with a one-under-par 70 and climbed to the world number two ranking at the expense of two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson, who needed a top-six finish to keep the rank but could only manage a tie for 45th after a closing 73.
The victory for Stricker, worth a massive $1,152,000, continued a remarkable turnaround for the American since losing his US PGA Tour card in 2004. He won the tour's Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007, won three titles in 2009 and after three tournaments this year has yet to shoot over par.
"It feels great, this means a lot," an emotional Stricker told NBC Sports. "I remember where I was and look at where I am now. It doesn't get any better and I really appreciate it."
Stricker had taken a six-stroke lead into the final round near Los Angeles and, 12 months after losing a two-shot lead in the same tournament to Phil Mickelson, a nervy start in Pacific Palisades saw Donald cut the lead to two after just five holes.
Birdies at the eighth and ninth put Stricker back on the right track before both he and his rival birdied the 11th and then bogeyed the 12th, Donald's first dropped shot in 34 holes.
Donald increased the pressure a little more with a birdie at 13 and further still with a four at the par-five 17th to cut the lead to two, but Stricker held his nerve to par the 72nd hole for victory, the Englishman also parring for his third consecutive top-10 finish at Riviera and a payslip for $691,200.
Halfway leader Dustin Johnson also shot a 66 to claim a tie for third place at 13 under with fellow American JB Holmes, who carded a 67.
Newly-appointed US Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul Goydos shot a 65 to claim a share of fifth place alongside compatriots Steve Marino and George McNeill, as well as Argentina's Andres Romero.
Closing rounds of 73 and 72 saw England's Justin Rose slip down the leaderboard to three under par and a tie for 37th, while a closing 73 sent countryman Brian Davis to one under and Glasgow's Martin Laird wrapped things up with a 72 to finish at one over par. His share of the prizemoney was $14,464.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
268 Steve Stricker 67 65 66 70 ($1,152,000).
270 Luke Donald (Eng) 68 70 66 66 ($691,200).
271 Dustin Johnson 64 67 74 66, J B Holmes 68 69 67 67 ($371,200 each).
274 George McNeill 70 69 66 69, Steve Marino 70 67 69 68, Paul Goydos 69 72 68 65, Andres Romero (Arg) 65 69 70 70 ($224,800 each).
275 Ricky Barnes 66 71 69 69 ($185,600)
276 Kevin Na 72 67 71 66, Kevin Stadler 65 71 69 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 70 70 68, Jason Bohn 69 75 67 65, Alex Prugh 71 69 66 70 ($147,200).
277 Marc Leishman (Aus) 71 71 70 65, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 73 68 68 68, Bo Van Pelt 70 70 69 68, Webb Simpson 70 73 69 65, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 70 68 68
278 Charlie Wi (Kor) 72 68 69 69, Jim Furyk 71 70 68 69, Matt Kuchar 69 71 72 66, Kevin Sutherland 69 71 68 70, Scott Verplank 68 74 65 71, Brandt Snedeker 66 72 69 71, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 69 67 71 71
279 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 70 73 66, John Rollins 71 71 67 70, Michael Allen 69 70 71 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 72 69 70 68, K J Choi (Kor) 71 72 71 65
280 Michael Letzig 71 72 68 69, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 68 68 72 72, Stewart Cink 71 71 67 71, Bryce Molder 71 68 71 70, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 72 71 68
281 Charley Hoffman 68 71 70 72, Woody Austin 71 72 70 68, Fred Couples 69 72 72 68, Chad Campbell 70 72 71 68, Justin Rose (Eng) 69 67 73 72, Jimmy Walker 71 72 71 67, Troy Matteson 68 69 74 70, Jonathan Byrd 68 74 71 68
282 Phil Mickelson 72 66 71 73, Rich Beem 74 69 68 71
283 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 70 68 73, Vaughn Taylor 73 70 72 68, Matt Bettencourt 70 74 72 67, Briny Baird 70 72 69 72, D.J. Trahan 72 71 72 68
284 D.A. Points 69 72 70 73, Anthony Kim 71 66 69 78
285 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 72 70 71, Brett Quigley 70 73 72 70, John Merrick 70 72 68 75, Roland Thatcher 68 73 74 70, Martin Laird (Sco) 72 72 69 72, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 71 68 72 74, Mark Wilson 72 72 72 69 ($14,464 each).
286 Justin Leonard 71 73 71 71, J J Henry 70 73 71 72, Jeff Overton 70 71 71 74, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 71 73 70 72, Ben Curtis 73 68 75 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 71 73 71 71, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 71 71 71 73
287 Nicholas Thompson 69 73 74 71
289 Steve Flesch 73 70 73 73, Craig Bowden 69 74 73 73
292 Parker McLachlin 71 73 72 76
294 Kevin Streelman 69 73 74 78