In the Bag 2013 with Steve Stricker

It is strange to think that the likeable American Steve Stricker, a player noted for his consummate professionalism and dedication to the game, has only won 12 PGA Tour events, 20 events worldwide in total and is yet to end his Major drought.

He’s spent most of the past six years inside the World Top Ten best golfers and has always been a consistent player on tour, yet the feeling is that despite his great all round game and consistent play, he could and should have won a few more titles than he has.

In this article we’ll take a look at the enigmatic American golfer and Ryder Cup veteran who is a twice winner of the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year award (kn 2006 and 2007)

FACTFILE:

Player Name: Steve Stricker

Place of Birth: Edgerton, Wisconsin, USA

Age: 46

Club Sponsor: Titleist

Major Wins (0) :  US Masters (0), US Open (0), Open Championship (0), USPGA Championship (0) – Best finish is 2nd at the 1998 USPGA Championship (behind Vijay Singh)

Other Tournament Wins : 20 (12 on the PGA Tour)

Current World Ranking: 9th

In The Bag with Steve Stricker 2013

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 Driver

Fairway Woods: None

Hybrids : Titleist 910 H Hybrid

Irons: Titleist AP2 Forged Irons

Wedges: Titleist Spin Milled Vokey Wedges

Putter: Odyssey White Hot #2 Putter

Ball:  Titleist ProV1x

Career Highlights:

While playing a part in team successes at the Dunhill Cup, Presidents Cup and in the 2008 Ryder Cup have been great personal milestones, Stricker’s greatest achievement is not really any single tournament victory, but instead his tenacity.

When he reached his lowest ebb in 2003, he was ranked 188th in the world and it seemed that he would slowly drift down the rankings. Two hard years followed with little improvement but Stricker never gave up and in 2006, bounced back to 34th in the world. That improved to 4th in the rankings in 2007 and since 2009 he has won eight tournamnets and finished 2nd, 5th and 8th in the world rankings from 2009 to 2011.

His remarkable return to the top of his game is a salutary lesson for all golfers that hard work, persistence and belief in your own ability can pay off.

Career Lowpoints:

Stricker’s career in golf has been a series of peaks and troughs. It took him just a few years to break into the top 50 and by 1996 he was fourth in the world, earning $1.383m and winning two titles in that year, yet it would be the portent for Strickers lowest ebb.

The following year was a disaster and he plummeted to 130th in the world, he recovered in 1998 to 13th but fell away to 64th and 113th by 2000. From 2003 t0 2005 inclusive, Stricker languished between 151st and 188th in the world.  His game seemingly on a downward spiral and yet arguably the finest part of his career was yet to come.

What does the future hold for Steve Stricker?

Although he is yet to win in 2013, Stricker has already amassed $1.9m in prize money and is well placed to challenge in the Fedex Cup race. However, one title does elude Stricker and that is a Major. With Augusta now a memory, Strickers’ game may be more suited to the likes of the US Open or USPGA where his accurate iron play and nerveless putting, rated by his peers to be one of the best putters of all time,  could prove to be a winner.

It would be a fitting way for Stricker to put a cap on one of the most remarkable recoveries of form in recent golfing history and would cement his place as one of the most consistent players in the modern game.

(Pictures courtesy of Steve Stricker’s Facebook Page)