When you think of the best golfer to never have won a major, Lee Westwood’s name comes to mind. After that, you don’t have to think to hard to come up with Steve Stricker’s name.
Stricker will tee off at 1:15pm Thursday afternoon in the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. It’s his 13th PGA Championship appearance in his 17th year on the tour.
But Stricker, who ranks 4th in the world, is playing well. He’s won twice on tour this year and is a shoe-in to make the American Ryder Cup team. But Stricker would love nothing more at the moment, then to win his first major and do it on Wisconsin soil.
It won’t be easy. Along with playing in his home state, comes with it the pressure to do well in front of the home state faithful.
Stricker doesn’t have a lot of experience at the Straits. Prior to a pair of 9 hole practice rounds this week, he’s played two 18-hole rounds previously. But some of the other top players that one would normally pick to win, like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, they’re not on top of their game. And the best golfer to never win a major, Lee Westwood, isn’t in this field.
Besides family and friends, Stricker has some additional support. A number of youngsters have been running around the course with t-shirts that read: “Strickers Soldiers”. Stricker said he thinks those came from a local club pro (Steve Howe), who supplied the t-shirts for the kids.
AUDIO: Bill Scott reports on Steve Stricker, getting ready for the 92nd PGA Championship 1:20