[June 23, 2014](Reuters) - Kevin Streelman set a
PGA Tour record when he birdied the final seven holes for an astonishing
one-stroke victory at the Travelers Championship on Sunday.
Streelman came from nowhere, one-putting the final 10 holes and
storming home in 28 strokes on the back nine to clinch his second
tour title with a six-under-par 64 at the TPC River Highlands in
Cromwell.
His seven birdies to finish and win is a tour record, supplanting
Mike Souchak's previous mark of six straight from the 1956 St. Paul
Open.
Mark Calcavecchia holds the record for most consecutive birdies on
tour at nine, set at the 2009 Canadian Open. "It's nuts," an
emotional Streelman told Golf Channel after finishing at 15-under
265, one stroke ahead of Spaniard Sergio Garcia (67) and South
Korean K.J. Choi (67), while Australian Aaron Baddeley (69) bogeyed
the last to finish two strokes behind.
"I made a great putt on nine (and) had tough up-and-downs on 10 and
11 (for par). Those saved the round," said Streelman, who arrived at
the tournament previously known as the Greater Hartford Open in
terrible form, having missed four straight cuts.
But it all came together when he stepped to the 12th tee on Sunday.
"I started flushing it and made a bunch of putts. It was just a
dream-come-true back nine."
Streelman, 35, who bounced around on mini-tours for half a dozen
years before making the tour, collected $1.116 million.
His victory was made even more unlikely by the way he made his
closing birdies.
