Golf365 and Sporting Life - Ryder Cup

Stricker has been around for a long time now, but finally gets the chance to make his Ryder Cup debut aged 41 - although he had to rely on one of captain Paul Azinger's wildcards to do so. To be fair to Stricker, he would have qualified by right any other year having finished tenth on the US points list, but missed out by just a place following Azinger's decision to shake up the selection process. The Wisconsin native's most successful year on tour came in 1996, while in 1998 he finished in the top-five at the US Open and then runner-up in the USPGA. His career tailed off rather in the years that followed, that was until a stellar 2006 season that yielded seven top-10 finishes, earning him the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year. He maintained that form in 2007, finishing seventh at the Open Championship and secured a place on America's Presidents Cup team. He played five times in a convincing US victory, winning twice and losing his other three matches. His form in 2008 has been solid rather than spectacular - although he did manage another top-10 Open finish at Royal Birkdale. A streaky player, Stricker will hope to peak again for Valhalla after some useful performances in the FedEx Cup play-offs.