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Craig Stadler had been there before, and remembered.
It was 21 years ago that Stadler faced a similar putt to hang on for victory on a Sunday afternoon. He had a 12-foot par putt remaining to win the Encompass Championship, and the setting was familiar to so long ago.
"It looked really familiar to the putt I made a billion years ago at Akron," Stadler said after dropping the curling putt for a one-stroke victory over Fred Couples at North Shore Country Club. "Kind of left to right, just kind of dripped it in the low side."
In 1992, Stadler sank a putt much like that one to win the World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club by a stroke over Corey Pavin.
"I just kind of talked to myself a little bit walking back to it," Stadler said. " 'You made that one, make this one, what the heck.' "
He made it to win on the Champions Tour for the first time in eight years and collect the $270,000 first prize, finishing with a 1-under-par 71 to total 13-under 203. But it was more of an adventure on the back nine than the 60-year-old Sadler expected after building a five-stroke lead through the first eight holes of the final round.
"I just kind of hit it down the middle and wonder where it goes," Stadler said of his driving, which was erratic down the stretch. "I've never done that in 50 years, but that's where I'm at now."
Read more http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/9415437/craig-stadler-wins-champions-tour-encompass-championship
