Stricker waiting for Ryder Cup phone call

Steve Stricker will be on the American Ryder Cup team, but he’s not taking anything for granted, not until he hears it himself from captain Paul Azinger.

“I’ve done what I could, played the best I can, and hopefully I will get a call either tonight or early tomorrow morning,” Stricker said after finishing in style with a chip-in eagle at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.

Stricker need not worry, because he will get that call from Azinger, but he admits he has felt the tension recently, trying to play well enough to earn one of those four captain’s picks for the team to meet Europe this month.

“I haven’t been as calm as usual,” he said. “Bad shots have been affecting me more than usual because it seems there’s a lot riding on every shot.

“I’ve tried to push it to the back of my mind but it’s been difficult. I would be disappointed (not to make the team), because I feel I’ve played well enough last year and this year.

“Every other year I’ve been in this situation I’ve put so much pressure on myself I haven’t been able to play, and this year I’ve learned from those previous failed attempts and I took an ’I don’t care attitude’, even though deep down I really do.”

Stricker has never played a Ryder Cup, finished ninth on the American points list after the PGA Championship, narrowly failing to gain one of the eight automatic berths on the team.

But he has continued to play solidly since then, locking up a spot, if ever there was any doubt.

Asked what he would bring to the team, Stricker continued: “The ability to get it around, get it in the hole, make some putts when I have to, hopefully, and to pair up with anybody.

“I feel I could be a good partner to anybody on the team. I get along with a lot of guys.”

Stricker was speaking after shooting 68 to finish at 10-under 274 at the Boston TPC.

Australian Stuart Appleby, who played the first three rounds with Stricker, was impressed.

“There are no weaknesses in his game I can see,” Appleby said. “He would be a good match player. He’s just too consistent.”