He is just a normal guy from Wisconsin. Friendly, supportive of his peers, not an inauthentic bone in his body. Pretty much like most guys in Wisconsin as long as they don't have a 6 pack of Leinie,s under their belt. Today, he is ranked the second best golfer in the world. You practice hitting balls in the snow, maybe you'll get there some day. #2, yet, if you don't know golf, you never heard of him. He is not as newsworthy as golfer #1.
You see, when he comes out on the tour as a young man, his wife is his caddie for the first five years. Until their first child is born. A caddie is generally a 7 days a week, 24-hour-a day-companion. Not much room to have wild times with the "boys." That's not his idea of fun, anyway. Sitting in a deer stand, waiting for a big eight point buck to come by, hunting with his father-in-law, now that's a good time!
He knows adversity. He has a three-year slide, starting in 2003, going from being fourth on the PGA tour to 188th and he ends up losing his tour card. He has to start all over, and go to qualifying school ("Q" School) again. That is a lesson in humility for someone so skilled and still relatively young. He is a humble man to begin with, though, so there isn't much of a thump when he falls from the top of the list. But, he isn't done, yet.
He gets his card at Q school, keeps improving, and becomes comeback golfer of the year in 2006. Keeps improving, wins again,a and is repeat comeback golfer of the year in 2007. The comeback is over. He is hovering at becoming the top ranked golfer in the world.
You can watch him play today at the Masters. He is in the same foursome as golfer #1. You have probably even heard of the top ranked golfer. He doesn't have a lot in common with #2. Actually, pretty much nothing in common, almost polar opposites, except that they both hit a small white ball extremely well.
So, even though every other word spoken about golf this weekend will be "Tiger," as in "Tiger Woods #1 ranked golfer in the world," I am a "Steve Stricker" kind of guy.
I will be rooting for #2.
I will even forgive him for going to U of I instead of UW.
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