CARMEL, Ind. – Steve Stricker should feel at home playing for the U.S. Ryder Cup team in Chicago.
“I’m excited,” Stricker said Wednesday after his pro-am round at the BMW Championship. “That was a goal of mine to try to make this team. It’s always fun being on this team, and I really wanted to make this Ryder Cup team with the event in Chicago.”
Born and raised in Wisconsin, practically adopted by Illinois after playing for the University of Illinois, Stricker is grateful he will get a chance to play the Ryder Cup at Medinah, where he will have strong support from his devoted followings in Illinois and Wisconsin. Stricker grew up a couple hours north of Chicago in Edgerton, and he has enjoyed a lot of success in the region. He won the Western Open in the Chicago area in 1996. That event evolved into the BMW Championship. He’s a three-time winner of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.
A captain’s pick, Stricker had a good feeling about being one of Davis Love III’s choices this week.
“Davis talked to me around the PGA Championship,” Stricker said. “He kind of leaned on me a little bit there, wanting my opinions. I told him, `Davis, I need to make the team.’ He said, `Don’t worry about it, you’re in good shape, just go out and play.’ But, yes, it was a little strange in some regard because I hadn’t made the team, but it was good to know he trusted me enough having been on these teams before.”