FORT WORTH – Count Woody Austin among those who don't like the course changes to Colonial.

"I'm not a big proponent of the changes. I didn't think the golf course needed to change," Austin said. "I'm a traditionalist. I love the old golf courses. I'm sad to see it changed."

Austin shot 7-under 63 on Thursday and closed with sub-70s rounds, including Sunday's 68. He and Vijay Singh finished the tournament tied for sixth at 14 under.

Austin overall was pleased with his finish, but he had some opinions about the course.

"This course doesn't need to be 7,200 yards," he said. "The course didn't need to be longer. Nobody's ever torn this place apart. No one's ever shot a 25 under or whatever.

"I just don't get it. What's wrong with having a really nice old-fashioned, traditional golf course and leave it alone?"

Steve Stricker won with a birdie on No. 17, the second hole of the sudden death playoff. But his chip-in birdie on No. 17 in regulation was just as big.

Stricker's approach flew the green and rested back left 56 feet from the pin.

"I was thinking about chipping in, and a guy said in the stands, you know, 'Chip it in,' and it really made me think and focus on trying to do that.

"I was thinking if I could chip it in, and maybe make birdie at the last, we could get in a playoff or steal one.

"So I had all of the right intentions and the shot just came off perfect."

Vijay Singh made his first appearance at Colonial since 2002.

Singh was competitive all weekend and entered Sunday only five shots off the lead. He finished tied for sixth at 266 and made a quick exit without talking to the media.

Colonial visitors' pledges, cash donations, and Rich Beem's birdie total resulted in contributions exceeding $1,900 for the Beem Fore Behm fund benefiting Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm, who was paralyzed last month when the roof of the team's indoor training facility collapsed. Approximately $4,000 was raised at last week's HP Byron Nelson Championship in Irving.

Brian Gay's 6-under 64 was the low round Sunday. Jim Furyk, Corey Pavin and Rory Sabbatini each shot 5 under. ... Sunday's playoff was Colonial's 10th in 63 years. The last was in 2007 when Sabbatini defeated Jim Furyk and Bernhard Langer. ... Charley Hoffman's run of 166 consecutive holes without a bogey ended on No. 9 Sunday. That equates to a little more than nine rounds. ... Gina LaBarre, Crowne Plaza's vice president of brand management, said no decision has been reached on whether the hotel chain will pick up a two-year option as the tournament's title sponsor after the 2010 event.