SAN DIEGO — Based strictly on score, Kevin Streelman's third round at the Buick Invitational wasn't too successful.

The 29-year-old rookie posted a round of 3 over, including a double bogey on the par-5 ninth hole, leaving him tied for 11th place after 54 holes.

Early in the round, he failed to convert on several makeable birdie putts, including a 3-footer on No. 1 that might have sent a message to everyone, including leader Tiger Woods, that he wasn't going to back down from the challenge of trying to catch the worlds' No. 1-ranked player.

Although the final numbers weren't what he wanted, Streelman got everything he wanted and more out of the experience of playing a round with Woods.

"That was one of the coolest things ever," Streelman said after the round. "It was fun to watch and fun to compare myself against him as well. It was inspiring and very educational. I recommend everyone try it at least once in their life.

"The more I got used to it and got into it, the more fun it was. I just wish I could have made a few more putts. It was a dream come true, but I hope it's not the last time."

Streelman's story is an inspiration to every golfer who is still chasing the dream.

A Duke graduate, Streelman has spent most of the past seven years toiling on various mini-tours, piling up the miles driving from one obscure tournament to another.

He had to go through all three stages of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, advancing through the first stage only by making birdie on four of the last five holes to qualify on the number.

"I'd still be sitting in Phoenix on the Gateway Tour right now if I didn't make that 12-footer that snaked down the hill on the last hole to get through," Streelman said.

The amazing thing is there are thousands of golfers around the world who, like Streelman, are chasing the dream.

"People don't realize the difference between someone making cuts out here on tour, getting on tour and winning a golf tournament," Woods said when asked about Streelman's rags-to-riches start this week.

"It's just a couple of shots here and there, maybe a couple of lucky breaks here and there. It really isn't as big a gap as people might think."

Streelman's been lucky because he's got a small but loyal group of backers who have stuck with him through the tough times. That group includes his fiancée, Courtney Caples, who upon hearing her husband-to-be was in the tournament, rushed to the airport in Phoenix and got to Torrey Pines by the time Streelman reached the 13th green.

With that kind of support, it's easy to see how Streelman was able to overcome all the obstacles he did to reach his sport's highest level.

There's a chance that it won't ever get any better for Streelman than it did this week, when he went from nobody to somebody in a span of 48 hours.

But after seeing how well Streelman handled himself this week, I'm convinced he's not going to be a flash in the pan.

The PGA Tour needs players like Kevin Streelman, guys who aren't blessed with superhuman skills (see Woods) but still manage to hang in there and play the game the way it's supposed to be played.

— Bob Buttitta is The Star's golf columnist. He can be reached at bbuttitta@VenturaCountyStar.com.