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Steve Stricker local hero at U.S. Open

By Kathlene Bissell

June 13, 2017; Erin, WI; USA; Steve Stricker watches his tee shot on the first hole during practice rounds for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Erin Hills Golf Club. Mandatory credit: Mark Hoffman/Journal-Sentinel via USA TODAY Network
June 13, 2017; Erin, WI; USA; Steve Stricker watches his tee shot on the first hole during practice rounds for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Erin Hills Golf Club. Mandatory credit: Mark Hoffman/Journal-Sentinel via USA TODAY Network /
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Local hero Steve Stricker has a feel-good U.S. Open experience and he thoroughly enjoyed his time at Erin Hills.

Steve Stricker was a local hero at Erin Hills. This will sound crazy to anyone who wasn’t at the 2017 U.S. Open, but Stricker drew the fans.  He hails from Edgerton, Wisconsin, maybe 50 miles as the crow files, from the small town of Erin. That made him a near-and-dear to the Wisconsin fans.

Crowds filled the stands in advance of Stricker playing holes, and they dispersed when he was finished. Though he never led, never even threatened the leaders at any time during the event, he had to leave feeling like a winner because of the way he was received every day.  He got a huge ovation at the 18th on Sunday.

“It was really cool.  I don’t get those very often,” he said about the reception.

"The crowds this week were unbelievable.  They came out in force and supported everybody.  In that regard, I thought it was a great week."

It’s just the beginning of a two-week, Wisconsin stretch that concludes next Sunday when Stricker finishes up his hosting duties at the PGA Tour Champions event sponsored by American Family Insurance in nearby Madison.

"Next week is more about doing — raising some money, giving back to the community. I’d love to play well next week and see if I can’t win one on the Champions Tour. But it’s a totally different feel and atmosphere than what I just did here this week."

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As we all know, Stricker wrote to the USGA requesting an exemption to the U.S. Open and was not surprised that his request was turned down.  So, he went through the Open qualifying process.

“Just the qualifier, itself, was a huge thing for me. Just that I made it.  It was a relief,” he admitted after his final round at the U.S. Open.

"I wanted to be here so bad. And then the reception and all the support I got all week long was unbelievable."

He made the week a family experience with his wife Nicki as his caddie, something she did when he first qualified for the PGA TOUR.

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"We had a lot of fun doing that. She loves that too.  She’s hurting.  I don’t know if she’ll be able to caddie next week. We had a lot of fun together."

His kids and the rest of his family were in the gallery.

While Stricker is of the age to play the PGA Tour Champions circuit, he said he will continue to play regular Tour events the rest of this year as well as some Champions events.

Right now, he is in the British Open and intends to play that. He does not know if he will play the Senior Open.

"If I keep playing well enough, I’ll be in the PGA.  So, I’m excited about being in all four of them this yea. As long as I can get in them, I’ll play them."

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As captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team, he needs to stay familiar with the younger players who will make up his squad. However, there are some advantages to aging up, mainly the difference in how far players on the PGA TOUR hit the ball.

"These guys play a different game. I don’t hit my driver 300 yards. These guys have a lot of firepower. This is the new age of golf.  They bomb it. If they hit it crooked, they bomb it again."

On the PGA Tour Champions, he said he will be one of the longer players.

"That’s the cool part.  I got some length out there. I doubt if they look at me like that."

Next: Mickelson's close calls at the U.S. Open

We will find out next week at the American Family Insurance Championship starting Friday.

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