A million dollars comes down to one hole

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Kevin Streelman enters the week with nearly $1 million in earnings, but could double that with a Kodak Challenge win.

Nov. 10, 2009
By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent

He's up by two strokes going into this final week, but it might as well be 22.

All Kevin Streelman wants to do is stand up, hit two good shots every day at the Magnolia Course's 17th hole and bury one of those birdie putts. He does that, it's over -- regardless.

He doesn't? Well, the Kodak Challenge -- and a $1 million winner-take all check -- is probably still a done deal considering there have been just four eagles on that hole in the last 26 years. And the last one came 11 years ago. But that hasn't stopped Streelman from trying to convince himself someone's going to catch him at the Children's Miracle Network Classic and make a run at his two-stroke lead.

Someone -- Bo Van Pelt since he's the only possible someone of the three currently tied for second in this week's field -- will hole out from the fairway at the 17th and tie him. Put the pressure on. Delay the inevitable.

"As much as everyone's saying someone's going to need a miracle, I'm almost planning on somebody holing out for my psyche,'' Streelman said.

His game plan is simple. Birdie the hole and win the inaugural Kodak Challenge outright. Leave Van Pelt, who is two strokes back, in his dust. It would be nice, too, if that birdie puts him near or at the top of the leaderboard since the only way to one-up winning $1 million would be to pick up the first win of his PGA TOUR career.

Just don't congratulate him on the Kodak Challenge win just yet. Don't even mention the odds of someone else winning being astronomical, which happened when the Viking Classic was rained out and no one had the chance to gain any ground on him.

"I don't like to hear that,'' he said, "but it's hard for it not to be in my mind sure. More of a priority right now is focus on playing well and give myself a chance to win a golf tournament. I'll prepare just as I have all year, for the tournament.''

Not the hole.

"You can't really over think it,'' Streelman said. "You can't just prepare for one golf hole, but when I step up on those tees, you know it. It definitely creeps into your mind.''

What started out as an oh-this-is-the-Kodak Challenge-hole at the beginning of the season turned into a race this summer at the John Deere Classic. The par-5 17th at the TPC Deere Run to be exact.

"I definitely knew it was a Kodak hole,'' he said. "I hit a great 3-wood in there to a couple of feet and when I made that, that was the turning point. That's when I took notice of where I was.''

The next week he made birdie on the Kodak Challenge hole at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee and shot from ninth in the standings to a tie for first. Now, he's two birdies up on a wishing-for-a-miracle Van Pelt and Nathan Green and J.J. Henry, both of whom are sitting home this week.

"Ever since then it's grown a bit in popularity,'' Streelman said. "It's gained a lot of traction and really excitement throughout the year. Each week it's getting more talked about and that much bigger.''

Which explains why his psyche needs to keep replaying that someone-will-hole-out scenario. At least until that $1 million check is in his hands.

Four years ago, Streelman was almost dead broke. He had $400 to his name and he was playing mini tours and just about any event with a purse. He missed qualifying school by a shot, but he kept working away, looking at the long term.

A year ago, he kept his card in style with back-to-back great finishes at the Wyndham Championship (tie for sixth) and The Barclays (tie for fourth). He ended the year with a share of sixth at the Children's Miracle Network Classic.

The 2008 Barclays was his biggest payday to date -- $289,333.33 -- and jumped him up that season's FedExCup standings. But it was an even more special week because it was played in his parent's hometown of Paramus, N.J., and the Ridgewood course bordered the cemetery where his grandparents were buried.

"For me, it's been an American dream,'' Streelman said. "The culmination of a ton of hard work, a few good breaks and believing in myself.''

He's had just two top 10s this season -- a tie for third at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun and an eighth-place finish at John Deere Classic -- but he's won almost $1 million. Now, this bonus. Well, to make his psyche feel better, probable bonus.

"I don't think it's a breakthrough year,'' he said. "I'm very clear with what I need to work on in the offseason. It's a process just like any other occupation. No one starts at the top, you work your way up.''

Streelman got away from everything last weekend when he headed to Myrtle Beach to celebrate swing coach Alasdair Dyer's wedding. And, the whole family -- parents, in-laws, sister and nieces -- are heading to Orlando to make what should be a great week a nice, relaxed little family affair.

And if he does indeed find himself holding the $1 million Kodak Challenge check? He'll probably help out his parents and in-laws. Maybe pay off his mortgage. Then put the rest away.

"I'm not one to go out and blow it all on cars and houses,'' he said.

He's been thinking about it, yes. Thinking about a win, too. And, well, that 485-yard par-4 17th hole.

He's thinking two good shots. Watch the lake on the left. Cut off as much as you want, but leave yourself a 6- or 7-iron coming in. And a putt. As short a putt as possible.

That's now. And what will he be thinking as he stands on that tee?

"Just take a deep breath and try to make a good shot,'' he said.

Just like he has every shot this year. No matter what's been on the line.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.