NORTON, Mass. – Put yourself in the hunt for a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team – play more. Finish runner-up at the second playoff event – play more.
All of this success is getting in the way of Steve Stricker’s semi-retirement.
On Monday, Stricker closed with a 67 to finish two shots behind winner Henrik Stenson at the Deutsche Bank Championship and move to eighth on the FedEx Cup points list.
Good stuff, right?
Maybe not for Stricker, who dramatically cut his schedule this year (he’s only played 11 events) and only added starts at this week’s DBC and the BMW Championship to secure a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
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Stricker has said all along that he would not play the Tour Championship because it conflicted with an elk hunting trip to Colorado. But if he plays well in next week’s BMW Championship and moves into the top 5 in FedEx Cup points that decision may be put to the test.
“I’m not sure about Atlanta yet,” he said. “If I’m up in there and have a chance to win or top 10 going into Atlanta, I’ll probably go to Atlanta.”
Any player inside the top 5 in points heading into the Tour Championship can win the FedEx Cup and $10 million with a victory at East Lake.
Stricker said he and four friends have been trying to arrange the hunting trip for some time and the group adjusted the dates so he could play the BMW.
“I’ve never done it before and it’s been on my to do list to try and this was going to be the year to do it,” he said.
