Stricker wants first major win in home state
Steve Stricker didn’t qualify for the PGA Championship in 2004, the last time the major came to the Whistling Straits golf course in his native state Wisconsin. Even amongst the Tiger Woods Ryder Cup drama, Stricker is the centre of media attention as he tees of Thursday with the entire state crossing their fingers for their native son.
“Do I feel extra expectations? Yeah, I do," Stricker said Wednesday. "Like I do every other week, I want to play well. But I REALLY want to play well here, you know what I mean?"
The No.4 world golfer resides in Madison but was born and raised in Edgerton. The 47-year-old golfer has never won a major before, and with this week’s and final major of the 2010 season taking place in his native state there is no doubt Stricker is feeling the pressure
All week Stricker was followed around by a frenzy of media and fans asking for his autographed and cheering him on during his practice rounds before the 96th PGA Championship kicks off Thursday. Kids donned “Stricker’s Soldier’s” t-shirts and Stricker, winner of the John Deer Classic for the second consecutive year in a row, even received a shout-out from the governor.
“Always in a major you’re feeling a little bit of extra pressure, but because of those expectations I’m feeling a bit more pressure because you want to perform at a high level. It’s hard to play golf when you expect something. So I’m trying to take that step back and trying to enjoy it more than anything.”
Stricker isn’t taking his second chance to contend on the course for granted.
In the early 1990’s Stricker was on the up-and-up as a rising golf star. He turned pro in 1990 and joined the Canadian Golf Tour and won his first two professional tournaments that year. After joining the PGA in 1994, Stricker finished fourth on the PGA Tour money list in 1996, an impressive feat for a golfer from the snowy state of Wisconsin, one not usually known for breeding world class golfers.
Stricker entered his first PGA Championship in 1998, playing himself into contention and finishing runner up after Vijay Singh outshot him by two strokes. It was his best finish in a major championship to date. He also has two top fives and four top 20 finishes at the U.S. Open.
Stricker’s career slumped a bit in the 2000s and resulted in him losing his Tour card in 2004. Because he had played so poorly in 2003, recording no top 10 finishes and missing the cut eight times, Stricker was not invited to the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
"It was difficult. My game, though, was not in any situation to be put on display, either," Stricker said. "But it was kind of a shot in the arm, too, showing that I needed to get better and needed to put some extra work in."
Stricker, who watched the tournament on T.V. at home, was determined to gain back his Tour card. After participating in a number of events on sponsor exemptions Stricker received the PGA Tour Comeback of the Year award in 2006 after seven top 10 finishes, a tie for sixth at the U.S. Open and a seventh place finish at the PGA Championship. He has continued to play well, making it as high as second on the Official World Golf Rankings after winning his second FedEx Cup play-off in 2009.
Stricker has become one of the PGA’s most consistent members, playing on the winning Ryder Cup team in 2008, and having his best season last year after winning three times and scoring eight top 10 finishes. This year he has two wins and an outside chance of making it to the No.1 spot on the world rankings.
“I've had, obviously, my ups and downs, and I've learned a lot through both those periods. But you can't replace experience. You learn a lot throughout the course of your career. I've been able to experience a lot of different things, and you can use those to your advantage as you go along. It's been a good run, and I would like to continue it."
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