Stricker and Woods in FedEx Cup and Player of the Year battle

Steve Stricker’s victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship means he is now the leading challenger to Tiger Woods’ number one world ranking.

Stricker moved past Phil Mickelson to occupy number two in the world and, though he is still some way off Woods, he at least can boast of FedEx Cup bragging rights … at least for now.

With two more play-off events remaining, Stricker leads the FedEx standings with 5,605 points with Woods on 4,696 points.

There is now talk that Stricker could even be in line for Player of the Year honours if he keep Woods at bay and wins the FedEx Cup.

Though Woods has failed to win any majors this season, he leads the money list by more than $2 million after five tournament victories and is also a favourite for the Player title.

However, Stricker wants to first concentrate on the FedEx Cup and this week’s BMW Championship. He said in an AP article:

“Whoever is going to win this, whether it be him (Woods) or me or anybody else, you’re going to have to play some pretty good golf for two more events. And it’s going to lead to a lot of excitement.”

Woods knows that the final events of the season are crucial to Player of the Year chances because those are still fresh in the minds of those who vote – the pros themselves. He said:

“Playing well at the end of the year in the big events … it can swing votes, because usually guys remember what you’ve done later in the year. There have been guys that have won three or four tournaments, but they were all at the beginning of the year. Somebody does it all late in the year, then people remember those.”

Should Woods be voted 2009 Player of the Year, it would be his second award during a season in which he has not won a major. The last one was in 2003.

Other non-major winners are Wayne Levi, in 1990, Greg Norman, who topped the votes in 1995.


One Response to “Stricker and Woods in FedEx Cup and Player of the Year battle”

  1. Jerry Seubert says:

    Hi Andy,

    It’s a funny feeling knowing Steve Stricker’s name is being mentioned and written up in almost every sports newspaper and magazine in the world, and here I find myself living 45 mi. down the road from him.

    We people in Wisconsin couldn’t be more proud of this true Gentleman.

    Love reading Your E-MAILS,

    Jerry

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