Steve Stricker’s wife, Nicki, isn’t working as his caddie this year. She’s carrying something else–the couple’s child, due in late August.
But that hasn’t prevented Nicki from helping Steve on the course. A putting tip from his wife helped put Stricker in contention during Saturday’s third round at the U.S. Open.
Stricker fired a 1-under-par 69, leaving him at 3-over 213 for the tournament, six shots out of the lead and tied for sixth with Jeff Maggert.
“My wife gave me a little lesson last night on the green,” Stricker said. “She told me to slow it down a little bit, so I tried to have that major thought today while I was on the green.”
The University of Illinois alum’s putter got him to 1 under through 14 holes, but he stumbled with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17. Still Stricker, the 1996 Motorola Western Open winner, wasn’t complaining on a day when a score in the 60s was a rarity.
“I’m in pretty good position going into tomorrow,” Stricker said. “I still like even par (to win the tournament). Payne Stewart may shoot under par, but I’d like to take my chances at even par.”
Amateurish: Matt Kuchar did something Saturday he hadn’t done previously in the Masters or the U.S. Open: He played like an amateur. Kuchar was looking good through 13 holes, remaining steady at 1 over. A birdie chance at the 14th hole proved to be his undoing.
Kuchar blew the putt past the hole and then missed the comebacker for a three-putt bogey. It fell apart from there as he wound up bogeying the last four holes and finished wth 76.
“I’m still having fun, but today was disappointing,” Kuchar said.
Kuchar shouldn’t feel too bad because the Olympic Club got the best of the best Saturday. Fred Couples shot 79. David Duval had his second 75 of the tournament, and pretournament favorites Colin Montgomerie and Justin Leonard had 77s.
Chicago bound: The Western Open wouldn’t mind if Stewart won here. He is coming to Cog Hill next.
If Stewart wins, the field would include this year’s two major champions–Masters winner Mark O’Meara also will play in the Western.
Father’s Day: Stewart is doing quite a bit better than his father, Bill, did at the 1955 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. Bill played two rounds, shooting 83 and 88.
“They must have had knee-high rough,” Stewart said. “Much higher (than it is now).”
Tough test: There have been complaints that the United States Golf Association wasn’t fair in setting up the course.
“The course doesn’t turn men into boys,” Chris Perry said. “It makes us pros, the top 1 percent of people who play golf, look like 15-handicappers.
Jack Nicklaus had the perfect answer for the complainers.
“If you’re at the U.S. Open, you’re going to have constant complaining,” Nicklaus said. “I love it.”
Nicklaus’ 73 was one of Saturday’s better rounds. He had a chip-in for a birdie on the 15th hole.
But he wasn’t feeling especially chipper; Nicklaus said his ailing hip has gotten worse since the Masters.
A tough cut: Don’t ask former Open champions Tom Watson, Hale Irwin and Corey Pavin to do any favors for Rocky Walcher. He’s the reason why those three players and 12 others aren’t playing this weekend.
Here’s what happened: The cut is set for the top 60 plus ties, plus anyone within 10 shots of the lead. As darkness fell Friday night, there were 59 players at 7 over. Walcher also was at 7 over as he walked up to the 18th hole.
If he parred the hole, the cut would be set at 7 over with 60 players. But if he bogeyed the hole, the cut would be at 8 over, opening the door for another 15 players.
Walcher made par.
“It’s kind of sad, but it’s happened to me before,” Walcher said. “I’ve been beaten out, maybe not in a tournament of this size, but I’ve been sitting on the line and missed the cut. I feel sorry for them, but these things balance out.”
