Now he's out on the big tour, and looking for more.
Streb opened this week's Honda Classic near Palm Beach with rounds of 65 and 70, easily inside the two-day cut line and only four strokes back of leader Luke Guthrie, yet another Web.com graduate from last season. Both find themselves well ahead of notables such as Tiger Woods, who is currently 1-under for the week with six holes to play in his second round.
Streb quickly asserted himself on the Web.com circuit last year as a reliable ball-striker who kept an even keel most of the time, with a game that looked apt to translate well to the big leagues. He backed up these assertions in his second PGA Tour event, a T16 effort at the Humana Challenge in January, but has missed his last three cuts to drift behind on the money list.
But Streb immediately showed that this weke would be different, opening the Honda with a 5-under 65 that was bested only by Camilo Villegas - who imploded on Friday with a 77 that leaves him a shot behind the cut line. (Note: A first-round leader missing the cut? Not something you see every day, or even every year.)
Streb showed no such implosion on Friday, with a steady-as-she-goes three-birdie, three-bogey effort that included birdies on the par-3 15th and 17th holes that make up two thirds of the famous Bear Trap.
Currently T11 as Friday play winds down, Streb will have himself an afternoon tee time as he kicks off weekend play. He certainly is within shouting distance of contention and the lead, but a better goal might be simply to finish the week in a similar position to where he is now.
In an event with big names like Woods, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and the like, Streb should find no complaints with his position after two days of play. As a PGA Tour rookie, he is near the top of the leaderboard in an event that boasts many of the biggest names in worldwide golf.
And if he starts well on Saturday, the nation might begin to learn a little more about Robert Streb.
