Golf: Steve Stricker has steady start in history bid

STEVE STRICKER made a solid start to his quest for a fourth consecutive victory at the John Deere Classic in Illinois.

The veteran American was one under par through his first six holes thanks to a birdie at the par-four second. The early pace was set by Ricky Barnes, who carded a seven-under 64.

Barnes fired eight birdies with just one bogey. The former US Amateur champion was one ahead of a group of four players, countrymen Robert Garrigus, Scott Piercy and Brian Harman and well as Korean KJ Choi.

Stricker is bidding to become just the fifth player to win the same tournament four times in a row. Tiger Woods has twice achieved the feat – at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (2000-03) and Farmers Insurance Open (05-08) – while Walter Hagen did so during his PGA Championship successes in the 1920s.