Streelman staying with Chicago sports legend

 
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – While many players in the field at this week’s BMW Championship are commuting to Conway Farms Golf Club from nearby hotels, Kevin Streelman is making the drive each morning from the home of one of Chicago’s most famous athletes.

A native of nearby Winfield, Ill., Streelman is spending the week as the house guest of former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.

“Yeah, I am staying at Urlacher’s. It’s awesome,” Streelman, 34, explained after shooting a 1-under 70 during Friday’s second round. “He’s got a nice arcade room, so we go back and screw around and play video games later.”

According to Streelman, he and the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year met through mutual friends nearly three years ago.

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“He lives out in Arizona in his offseason, so we play some golf,” Streelman said of Urlacher, who played his entire 13-year career for the Bears before retiring after last season. “He was gracious enough to let me stay with him this week, and it’s awesome. It’s very close and very easy to get here. It’s making for a nice, relaxing week.”

The housing arrangement seems to be paying off so far for Streelman, who enters Saturday’s third round in a tie for fourth at 6-under 136, just five shots behind co-leaders Brandt Snedeker and Jim Furyk. Following Friday’s round, the winner earlier this year in Tampa indicated that the positive energy from playing in the Windy City has helped to spur him along through two rounds at Conway Farms.

“I’m driving it great, getting into the fairways out here … and really rolling the ball well,” added Streelman. “Just kind of feel comfortable, especially in this city, my favorite city in the world, growing up here.”