NOTRE DAME — In the fall of 2020 the Wisconsin Badgers are slated to play Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Fighting Irish football fans better hope their team puts up a better fight than its Warren Golf Course did against Wisconsin native Steve Stricker, or it will be a very long fall afternoon. Stricker destroyed the Warren Golf Course on his way to winning the 40th U.S. Senior Open in his first attempt.

His six-stroke win over fellow Wisconsin native and lifelong friend Jerry Kelly tied the record for biggest margin of victory. His round of 62 on opening day tied the record for lowest round in a major tournament.

Stricker crushed the 36- and 54-hole scoring records with totals of 126 and 192 respectively.

As easy as it seems on paper, it was not until the 12th hole that Stricker was able to put the field away when he chipped in from just off the green to reclaim his six-stroke advantage. Kelly and the rest of the field were never able to mount a serious challenge after that.

“It was just a dream week,” Stricker said. “There’s been a lot of years trying to get one of these [USGA trophies]. To get this gold medal and the trophy in a USGA event means a lot.”

Kelly, who had defeated Stricker the previous week to win the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wisconsin that Stricker hosts in a playoff, played well enough to win any other U.S. Senior Open.

But no one was about to take this one away from Stricker, not even defending champion David Toms, who also had a great week of golf, but finished tied for second with Kelly.

“We would have had a really great tournament this year if it hadn’t been for Steve,” said Toms with a laugh. “Obviously, you want to come here and play well defending a title and playing really well the first day (62) just added a little bonus to it. It’s a fun week. The people here were so nice — the volunteers, the fans in general and everything around the campus. My wife and daughter had a wonderful week and I just want to say thank you.”

Stricker tore through the field, barely making a mistake for the first three rounds. At one point, he went 57 consecutive holes without a bogey. When someone is out front at a major tournament and not making mistakes, the rest of the field is at their mercy.

Stricker was not as sharp on Sunday, but when he did miss the fairway, which he regularly did as he only hit 9 of 18 greens in regulation, they were only slightly off and his short game was outstanding throughout the tournament.

“It was a challenge, especially today when you come out with a six-shot lead, you have everything to lose and nothing to gain,” Stricker said. “And I played that way today. I played very cautiously and tried not to make a mistake. This game is hard when you play that way. I really didn’t have the freedom like I had the first three days, and rightfully so. I am trying to win this tournament, and I am glad that I did.”

U.S. Senior Open notebook

•  Stricker is the eighth player to win the U.S. Senior Open in his first attempt, and third wire-to-wire champion with ties, joining Simon Hobday (1994) and Olin Browne (2011). He is the first player to win with four rounds in the 60s since Roger Chapman (2012).

• Stricker is the 14th person to win multiple senior majors in the same season.

• Tom Watson, the 1982 U.S. Open champion who made it a record 17-for-17 in cuts made in the U.S. Senior Open this week, matched or bettered his age (69) for the third time in four rounds. Watson carded a 2-under 68 for a 72-hole total of 278.