HARRISON, N.Y. — Steve Stricker never lost hope, even when all the signs were stacked against him.
He had gone 6 1/2 years and 146 tournaments since his last victory. Four times this year, he wasted prime chances to pose with the trophy. The worst feeling Sunday at The Barclays was seeing K.J. Choi pour in two birdie putts that measured a combined 95 feet that gave him the lead and left Stricker destined for more heartache.
In a stunning turnaround, the tears he shed on the 18th green were from sheer joy.
Stricker birdied four of his last five holes to close with a 2-under 69, turning a one-shot deficit into a two-shot victory over Choi and getting the inaugural PGA Tour Playoffs off to a rousing start — even with Tiger Woods sitting this one out.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Stricker said, still wiping his eyes.
It sure wasn't easy.
Not with 10 players — five of them major champions — separated by three shots along the back nine at Westchester Country Club. Not with the memories of four blown chances still nagging him. And certainly not with Choi making two long putts that caused Stricker to bow his head but not sag his shoulders.
"I thought I was hitting well enough to maybe make a few birdies coming in," Stricker said, pausing to smile. "Obviously, not four out of the last five holes. But I tried to stay as positive and upbeat, just waiting for my time."
And when his final birdie from 8 feet dropped into the cup, he raised his arms and hugged his caddie, Tom Matthews, who first caddied for Stricker when he won the 2001 Match Play Championship in Australia. Jerry Kelly, who grew up with Stricker in Wisconsin, was among the first to congratulate him.
An emotional player, Stricker could barely speak to the television cameras.
"It was hard, but it was fun," Stricker said as tears streamed down the side of his face. "I never knew if I was going to win again."
Stricker finished at 16-under 268 and moved atop the FedEx Cup standings by 2,050 points over Choi, who closed with a 70. Rory Sabbatini birdied the final hole for a 68 and third place, moving him up to No. 3 in the playoff race.
Woods skipped the first of four playoff events and tumbled to No. 4, nearly 5,000 points behind Stricker.
The next stop is the Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston, which starts Friday. There are three tournaments remaining before someone captures the $10 million deferred bonus, but all Stricker cared about was hoisting another trophy.
LPGA TOUR: At Portland, Ore., Lorena Ochoa won her third straight LPGA title with a five-stroke victory in the Safeway Classic on Sunday. Ochoa shot a 71 in the final round for a 12-under 204 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club for her sixth victory of the season. In-Bee Park (64), Christina Kim (69), Sophie Gustafson (75) and Mhairi McKay (72) all finished at 7-under 209.