CROMWELL, Connecticut (AP) ― As much as Kevin Streelman enjoys the back nine at TPC River Highlands, even he didn’t think he what he accomplished Sunday was possible.

Streelman birdied the last seven holes to win the Travelers Championship by a stroke, shooting his second straight 6-under 64 to finish at 15-under 265.

“It’s probably my favorite nine holes on the PGA Tour,” Streelman said. “But you can’t plan for something like that to happen. It just kind of falls into place.”

He broke the tour record for consecutive closing birdies by a winner of six set by Mike Souchak in the 1956 St. Paul Open. He matched the tournament record with a 7-under 28 on the final nine.

“I had 10 one-putts in a row,” Streelman said. “That’s something I’ve definitely never done before.”

Also the Tampa Bay Championship winner last season, the 35-year-old Streelman missed the cuts in his previous four starts on tour.

“I didn’t have too many expectations coming here,” said Streelman, who earned $1.12 million for the victory.

Sergio Garcia and Choi Kyung-ju tied for second. They each shot 67.

Aaron Baddeley was fourth at 13 under after a 69.

Streelman was 1 over for the day before starting the birdie run on No. 12. The streak reached five with a 37-foot putt at No. 16, and he capped it by hitting a wedge to 9 feet and rolling in another putt at No. 18.

“I knew when that putt fell on 16 that something kind of special was happening,” Streelman said.

Streelman said he hasn’t focus on golf exclusively lately, trying to spend more time with wife Courtney and 6-month-old daughter Sophie.

“I was thinking about her (Sophie) on those last couple of putts. I was thinking, ‘You know what? If these go in, great. If not, great.’ She’s going to love me either way and we have a nice family vacation coming up either way,” Streelman said.

Streelman said a 10-foot putt for birdie on No. 9 gave him a boost of confidence that he could finish with a flourish. 


Ilonen wins Irish Open

CORK, Ireland (AP) ― Mikko Ilonen shot a final round 70 on Sunday to win the Irish Open by 1 stroke, leading from start to finish.

The 34-year-old Finn celebrated his 300th European event and fourth tour victory after an overall 13-under 271 on the Fota Island course.

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari shot a 4-under 67 to finish second on 12 under, a shot ahead of the England pair of Danny Willett (71) and Matthew Baldwin (69) who shared third place with Swede Kristoffer Broberg (69).

Molinari, Willett and Baldwin secured the three spots available for next month’s British Open at Royal Liverpool.

Local favorite Graeme McDowell never really appeared in the hunt for his first Irish Open success, posting 71 to finish tied for sixth, three shots behind Ilonen.

Ilonen, who set a new course record with a round of 64 on day one, survived an anxious moment at the end of the final round when he found trees with his tee shot that led to a bogey.