It was Memorial Day weekend of 1996 and no one had heard of Steve Stricker. But as he walked down the rain-soaked 18th fairway at the TPC at Avenel with his wife and caddie, Nikki, he had clinched the Kemper Open. Has it really been 10 years?
Wednesday at Avenel, Stricker revisited his first victory on the PGA Tour and reviewed the state of his game.
“Yeah, 10 years ago. It kind of flew by,” said Stricker, a 39-year-old from Wisconsin. “This is a special place for me in my heart coming back to Avenel.”
On the surface, it’s the same Stricker as 10 years ago. Same tall, lean, broad-shouldered build. Same down-to-earth, engaging Midwestern personality. Even the same inscription — “Titleist” — on his hat when he walked Avenel 10 years ago.
But a lot has changed for Stricker. Despite winning three PGA Tour events and more than $9 million, Stricker has had to deal with adversity, losing his PGA Tour playing privileges twice. The low point came in 2004 when he missed the cut in seven of eight tournaments.
But after scrapping in qualifiers and writing letters to lobby for sponsor exemptions the last two years, Stricker has virtually guaranteed himself his card next year, earning $736,311. In April at the Shell Houston Open, Stricker placed third, his best finish in five years. Last week at the U.S. Open, Stricker led after three rounds on his way to sixth place.
“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me,” said Stricker. “I’ve always felt like I’m a player who belongs out here. The last couple of years, when I’ve had to fight for spots in the tournaments, it’s been a little discouraging.”
Stricker’s fortunes have largely been tied to his performance off the tee. In 1996, Stricker ranked No. 6 in driving distance (281 yards). This year he averages 285 yards. But in the current, Titanium-powered version of the PGA, that ranks him in the bottom third at No. 122.
“I may be one of those guys who hasn’t been able to take advantage of the technology,” said Stricker. “Obviously everybody hits it long now. … We can get more distance by lighter shafts, swing speed, ball speed, launch angle. Back in ’96, [there was] none of that.”
This week, Stricker hopes to bring at least something back from 10 years ago.
