Suddenly, Stricker's Opinion Matters

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- The questions came at Steve Stricker fast and steady, one after another seeking insight and opinion on golf's most important subjects, like Tiger and Tiger and Tiger.

Stricker, cooperative to the extreme, responded to each and every inquiry with his best effort -- even if the whole scene makes him laugh.

"It's amazing how good golf transpires into being a smarter person," Stricker said. "A few years ago, nobody cared what I thought."

Now, on the strength of four wins in his last 16 PGA Tour events and world No. 2 ranking behind only Tiger Woods, the 43-year-old Wisconsin native has become a wealth of knowledge, not because he has grown one bit more insightful and aware, but because of his growing golf profile.

"It's weird, but it's part of the territory," said Stricker, who heads a strong field at this week's Transitions Championship outside Tampa. "I'd heard that from guys a generation older than me. All of a sudden you become this great player, your opinion suddenly matters.

"It's part of the nature. People want to hear your opinion and what you have to say. And hopefully you don't put your foot in your mouth. But yeah, it is strange and funny."

If anybody deserves to speak about his own golf game, Stricker is the guy. In a season where the door was open for a number of established stars to step up and fill the void created by Woods' absence, he is the only player out of the world's top 10 to respond with a victory. Since the season began, Ian Poulter and Ernie Els moved into the top 10 after victories, but Stricker is the season's only winner who began the year among the elite list.

Also, in addition to the victory, he has three top-10 finishes this year in four stroke-play events.

But there's no avoiding the Woods' news frenzy.

And, one other thing. Stricker was smart, savvy and insightful even before he rediscovered his game and rejuvenated a sagging career.

"I'm excited to see him back. I'll be interested to see how he plays and how he handles everything and see how the fans and everybody handle him."
- Steve Stricker So, you really do want to hear what he thinks.

On Woods' announced return to tournament golf at next month's Masters and the non-stop dissection of the subject since:

"It's been a huge story the last three or four months, and the one he's coming back for, the Masters, is going to draw huge coverage around the world, and be very much looked at, will be very much under the microscope. He will be; everybody will be. I think it draws a lot of attention to the game. In that respect, it's good.

"Golf is going to be at the forefront for the Masters, everywhere, which I think is pretty cool. And he's coming back; I think that's another great thing. I'm excited to see him back. I'll be interested to see how he plays and how he handles everything and see how the fans and everybody handle him. But I'm anxious and looking forward to seeing him again."

On, the hype of Woods' return potentially upstaging the Masters:

"Well, the story line is going to overpower everything. And I didn't mean that in any bad way. I just think that it's a huge story line, and whether it's the Masters, which is probably one of the top events that we play in the world, that's just the way it is. That's the story of the week. But it is the Masters.

"The underlying fact is that it's a huge, huge event that he's coming back and that he's going to be there."

On Woods playing his first competitive golf in almost five months, and the difficulty of regaining a tournament rhythm and routine.

"Well, I think the nerves are a huge factor. I think you swing a little bit different under competition, under the gun, than you do when you're just playing a round of golf with friends or out there practicing on your own. You have to realize your tendencies when you are under the gun. Everybody has tendencies when they are playing competitive golf compared to like just a fun round. Their tempo may change a little bit.

"That's why I think guys like to play leading up to. They see what their tendencies are, they can work on them out under the gun and try to improve. And that's what he's not going to be able to do leading up to Augusta."

On the additional scrutiny and criticism a big-number, uncompetitive return might cause:

"I suppose it could. I don't see that happening really. But you know, he can only answer, how he's going to feel. I hate to speculate, but it's going to be a different feeling for him to come back this time, I think, after a long lay over and really just the uneasiness of what he's going to get from other people, He's the only guy that can probably answer that, and deal with it. He's a strong-minded person and it will, I'm sure, test him to the limits this time."
Stricker's patience never seems to be tested. He went on to address other theories and inquiries -- a regular guy, only with an extraordinary golf game.

"I still don't know about being comfortable being No. 2 in the world but, I'm comfortable with what I do," he said. "I continue to do the same things week-in and week-out. I try not to deviate too much from what I do, and I have confidence. I've been playing well and I brought a lot of confidence with me to each event, and that's a good thing. And I try not to really pay attention to any of this other stuff and just go about my business."

A smart man.