Q & A // by bob verdi
a goal. I’m excited that I can do it. I’m
happy, satisfied, and very grateful. The
good things that happened to me the last
six years were way beyond my expectations. Way, way beyond.
Q: When you do play, you might be more
energized than ever.
A: It’s possible. I still love to compete.
But there are those stretches, like leading
up to the FedEx Cup and Ryder Cup last
year, that you’re playing every week. This
year, I played the opening event in Hawaii,
then stayed over there with the family instead of playing the second event. Perfect.
After he Announced A cut-bAck to his tour schedule
to spend more time with his fAmily, golf world Asked
this 20-yeAr veterAn, A seriAl crier, to discuss his
decision. he did so without shedding A teAr.
Steve Stricker
Q: Once upon a time, another famous athlete retired so he could drive his
kids to school. Then Michael Jordan took up baseball.
A: Oh, no baseball for me. And no basketball. I can’t jump. Plus, I’m not
retiring. I’m just stepping away a bit to be a better husband and father.
Q: Are you ruling out playing some on the
Champions Tour?
A: No. I hear it’s a lot of fun. I plan on
playing a few events on our tour. I still
enjoy hitting balls, and when it’s time for the
Champions Tour, I could play a few there. I’m
in a very good place.
Q: So is your buddy, Mike Small, coach of your
old Illinois golf team.
A: He’s got a couple more kids on the
PGA Tour. Luke Guthrie and Scott Langley.
Amazing.
Q: You know the old saying. You get married for bet-
ter or worse but not for lunch. Have you cleared this
with Nicki?
A: She’s on board with it. So far. But it’s early.
Q: Are you proud of your accomplishments?
A: I’d have loved to win a major. But, yeah, I’m
proud that I didn’t give up when I hit bottom. It
crossed my mind, but I got through it.
Q: Any chance you will get bored?
A: Don’t think so. I love the outdoors, hunting and
fishing around our home in Wisconsin. Plus, we’re
starting up a foundation with American Family
Insurance that will help educate parents and children
about nutrition.
Q: Ryder Cup still hurt?
A: I’m over it. It stung for a while. Still stings
when I think about it. We were upset about
Medinah, all of us, but we ran into a buzzsaw
on Sunday. The Europeans were great. The
experience was great. Tiger and I talked about
it. You have to move on.
Q: So, you’re going to tell football fans in Green Bay to
lay off beer and bratwurst?
A: I don’t think that will go over well up there. Actually, we’re just trying to stress moderation. I’m trying
to get better at it myself.
Q: What prompted you to begin your “semi-retire-
ment” with the 2013 season?
A: I’m 45. When I was 35, I thought if I could play
another ten years, then dial it back, that would be
the
stricker
file
Hometown
Madison, Wis.
Birthdate
Feb. 23, 1967
On course
Stricker has 12 PGA
Tour victories, nine
since he turned 40.
He has played in four
Presidents Cups and
three Ryder Cups.
Off course
He and wife Nicki
have two daughters: Bobbi, 14, and
Isabella, 6. Stricker’s
father-in-law,
Dennis Tiziani, once
coached the
Wisconsin golf team.
Q: By semi-retiring, are you just setting your-
self up for yet another Comeback Player of the
Year award?
A: No, I think I pretty well ruined that when I
won twice in a row. The PGA Tour changed it
to a guy who comes back from a serious injury
or personal crisis. My crisis was hitting it sideways and missing cuts. I just came back from
finding my ball in the rough.
