Stricker sticks to game plan with captain's picks for US Team

Steve Stricker is about as unpredictable as a perfect fall day in Wisconsin.

With just a hint of autumn in the air last week, the American Ryder Cup captain quickly got down to business.

“Let's get straight to the captain's picks,” Stricker launched.

“My captain's picks are: Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth.”

No fanfare. No nonsense. 

No deviation from the midwestern sensibilities that have made Stricker one of the game’s most endearing figures.

According to the Golf Channel, the PGA of America normally likes to make a show of these types of moments.

The Ryder Cup is, after all, one of the association’s most important properties. But Stricker has no need for a hype man.

With the Ryder Cup looming in just two short weeks, it seems the right time for the world to understand where the 54-year-old father of two is coming from, and it was all there on Wednesday – a matter-of-fact decisiveness, an unwavering belief in his team’s plan and a commitment that only Stricker would make.

“My message from Day 1 has been to try to out-prepare the other team,” the captain said.

If the selection process, which was only made more complicated by the pandemic that postponed the matches a year and an unprecedented six captain’s picks, is any indication, Stricker had a clear blueprint for what he wanted from his team and never wavered from the process.