Tuesday Steve Stricker was named the PGA Tour’s Comeback Player of the Year for the second straight year.
2007 was without a doubt Steve Stricker’s best year ever. With a PGA Tour victory and nine top ten finishes including a second place finish in the inaugural FedEx Cup race, Stricker found his way back to prominence among golfing’s elite. Stricker is currently fourth in the World Golf Rankings, and also finished the year fourth on the PGA Tour’s money list. Perhaps what made this season sweeter for Stricker was his victory at the Barclay’s during the FedEx Cup which ended his six year victory drought. After losing his Tour Card in 2005, Stricker recomitted himself and in 2006 earned his Tour Card back by his position on the money list. Stricker’s second Comeback Player of the Year award shows just how much his game has improved since then as he surpassed his 2006 performance.
Stricker’s nine top ten finishes showed how consistent his level of play remained throughout the year. He was in contention in both the U.S. Open and Open Championships thanks to some strong third round scoring. His third round scoring average of 68.56 was best on the PGA Tour and allowed him to face the world’s best with the greatest pressure. Although he admittedly struggled in the final rounds of majors, his duel with K.J. Choi at the Barclay’s showed just how far Stricker had come since his struggles in 2005. Stricker chose to play his own game relying on consistent ball striking and putting to create scoring opportunities. As to his goals for 2008, three time Comeback Player of the Year doesn’t seem likely according to Stricker, "I was thinking about what I would have to do to win this three years in a row, and usually you have to have a better year than last year. I don’t know if I’d be out of this ballot and maybe be on the Player of the Year ballot, which would be nice."
It was definitely a brilliant year for Steve Stricker. Not only was it good in terms of a comeback he was right in the mix with a chance to win the inaugural FedEx Cup but then very few have figured out how to put one past Mr Tiger Eldrich Woods so we will not hold that one against Steve.
This was his finest season on the PGA Tour after the one in 1996 when he had two victories to his name and seven top ten finishes. But he made three times as much money this time around, quite comfortably his best performance in the money stakes and the victory at the Barclays Championship with a strong field must have been special. The phenomenal season also allowed him to be a part of the U.S. Presidents Cup team. The only other time he was on that team was in 1996.
But this time he has got a shot at the more prestigious Ryder Cup and it is definitely possible for him to make it to the Ryder Cup team. He just has to continue his consistent performance into next year and he will be right up there with a chance to make it to Valhalla. He has also struck it big in the golf rankings reaching a career high of 4th at one point and is now perched at the 5th spot one behind Big Easy. Of course now he would obviously like to add a major to his kitty which would require him to pull his game up another level.