Steve Stricker

Steve Stricker, born Feb. 23, 1967 in Edgerton, Wis., is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour and peaked as high as second in the Official World Golf Rankings. He grew up as a member of Lake Ripley Country Club, outside of Cambridge, Wis., as well as Edgerton Country Club where he developed his game. Stricker played golf for the University of Illinois in the late 1980’s, where he became a three consecutive Big Ten Conference medalist. After graduating in 1990, he qualified to play in the Canadian Golf Tour, where he would win two tournaments.

Stricker would finally make it to the elite level – PGA Tour – in 1994. His first victories came in 1996, winning the Kemper Open as well as the Motorola Western Open. That same year he was able to finish in the top ten seven times, placing fourth on the PGA Tour Money List.

The PGA Championship in 1998 was held at Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Wash. Stricker placed second in the major, rallying in the back nine but falling just short to Vijay Singh by two strokes. That has been his highest recorded finish in a major championship. Stricker has six top 20 finishes at the U.S. Open Major Championship; his best would be in the 1999 Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Stricker fell apart in 2004, only to lose his Tour card due to poor performance and loss of form. Nonetheless, Stricker would work his way back up to the top level in 2006, relying on sponsor exemption and pulling out another seven top 10 finishes, thus winning the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year award. In 2007, Stricker won the Comeback Player of the Year award again after becoming runner-up to Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. That following year, Stricker would move to third in the Official World Golf Rankings.

In 2009, Stricker would win the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. That was his second win at that tournament. He would shoot an astounding 64, seven under par, and 61, 10 under, on a long 36-hole Sunday due to rain outs the day before. That 61 (-10) would be Stricker’s record low round on Tour. In September of 2009, Stricker would win his third event, the Deutsche Bank Championship. That playoff win would top Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup points, allowing Stricker to become second in the Official World Rankings.

Stricker would return to Silvis, Ill. the next year to reclaim the prize. He broke his personal round low record with a 60 (-11) in the first round of the tournament. He would keep the rally going in the next two rounds, shooting a 66 and 62, setting the PGA Tour 54-hole record. Cruising through his Sunday final round with a 70, he would easily triumph, making that his ninth career win on Tour.

Steve Stricker has been very successful on Tour, placing within the top 10 in the rankings for 140 weeks since 2007. As of this year, he is sixth on the Money List with three top 10 finishes through five events with earnings of $1,935,340. His career earnings total up to be $37,024,901. He is best known for his short game, specifically his precise putting ability and touch. The Illinois graduate has come a long way since being a Big Ten medalist, continuing his success on Tour.