CHUBB CLASSIC PRESENTED BY SERVPRO

February 15, 2024

Steve Stricker

Tiburón Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, now joined with Steve Stricker, the 2021 champion here at the Chubb Classic. How does it feel to be back?

STEVE STRICKER: It's always a nice place to come back to. We've spent some time here over the years. Both Nicki and I, when we came in here, told each other how much it's a nice surprise to be back here in the area again.

Yeah, like I said, we took up residence here for a few years and it's a nice spot, nice people. Beach is right around the corner. Tiburon has been a place we've played quite a few time over the years, so it's always fun to come back and play and participate here.

Yeah, we're excited.

Q. You're in Orlando now, right?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah.

Q. You spend your time there?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah.

Q. What kind of role does that play getting you ready for a new season?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, very much so. You know, my girls are playing so they drag me out there. I'm watching or playing with them. Just spend lot of time on the golf course in general, so it's a big role in keeping me pretty sharp at the start of the year.

Q. Better than hitting balls out of a trailer.

STEVE STRICKER: You know what? I don't mind doing that. I actually -- when I'm home, and I was home for a couple weeks after Hawai'i and hit some balls. But it's actually a relaxing time for me in Wisconsin, too, because I kind of get away from the game; yet I get a club in my hand and hit in the cold weather.

I get a lot done there, too. I kind of got a process down where I still get a lot of work done at home even though I can't play. So it's not a bad thing to hit balls out of a trailer. It's actually kind of good.

Q. I've seen you guys hit. It's like spring training baseball.

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah.

Q. How do you get fired up for another season? Is that easy for you? Is it a challenge? How do you get the fire going?

STEVE STRICKER: For me it's easy. I'm excited to play. I'm excited to continue to work on my game to try to keep that ball rolling like I had it going last year, to try to continue that feel. So it's not hard.

I still have a lot of drive and motivation to prepare and get ready.

Q. Doug Ferguson, we were talking today, and he said you when you guys talked last year, you talked about still maybe thinking about popping over the to regular TOUR. Is that still in the mix?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, I get two starts out there for sure the PGA Championship and the PLAYERS Championship. Yeah, I always toss that idea around in my head.

I'll probably see how I feel at the PLAYERS Championship. You know, John Deere I kind of want to go back to one more time. Be kind of fun.

So, yeah, there is a handful of events that I feel like I wouldn't mind trying to go back and playing again.

Q. Colonial, stuff like that?

STEVE STRICKER: Colonial might be hard to get back into. And that's opposite I think the Senior PGA, so there is some scheduling that's a challenge, especially in that month of April, May, June. We're really busy out here. Now that I added a couple out there, it's really busy.

Q. (Regarding Steve Alker winning the season ender.) What does that do to push you? What are your impressions of Steve and his game?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, he's going to be tough to beat. Played with him there in Hawai'i. He played great. He hit the shots, made the putts when he had to, and neither one of us -- you know, I guess we gave him a little run for a little while, but he pulled away there at the end.

Yeah, he's in shape, which means a lot out here. He's got a good game and he putts it well. So pull all that together out here, that's going to be a tough guy to beat.

Q. Good to get pushed, right?

STEVE STRICKER: Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah, hopefully I'm doing the same to him; and there are other players out here that play really well, and so it's just not the one guy.

But he's definitely the guy I think that gets all of our attention, knowing that he's probably going to be up there to compete to try to win the tournament.

Q. Talk a little bit about the run you were on last year. What does that feel like just to have that, be in that zone for an extended period of time?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, it was a lot of fun. You know, every tournament that I showed up at I had a feeling that I could get in there and have an opportunity to win.

Some of them I did; some I got close. But it was -- it's a great feeling. When you're playing the game of golf, it's a silly game where you can get on those runs and maintain them and then there are times you're like what the heck happened and why can't I get it in the hole.

Got to ride it out and not think too much about them and keep it rolling. That's what I did for the most part of the year. Got off to a good start this year. Got off to a good start in Hawai'i. My game feels pretty good so far.

Excited to get this week going as well.

Q. Dinner tonight to honor Bernhard. Hopefully he's going to be here shooting for number three. Scott Parel, Steve Alker and Mario.

STEVE STRICKER: Oh, cool.

Q. These guys have found a way to get out here.

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah.

Q. What is your level of admiration for especially Mario being so close?

STEVE STRICKER: I mean, I think it's great. I so much pull for Mario on a weekly basis. Hopefully first of all gets in the tournament and secondly plays well.

But this TOUR provides an opportunity if you can keep your body in shape, keep your game somewhat in order, so when you do turn 50 that you have opportunity. That's the cool part of this TOUR, is that even though they don't take a lot of guys in the TOUR school, it's based off previous play on the regular TOUR, criteria, eligibility.

Still gives guys the opportunity to get out here, and if you play well enough you can stay out here. That's what cool about what Alker did, obviously going all the way to win the Schwab Cup, and then Mario who has gotten progressively better the last few years.

It's a cool opportunity for these guys, for any of us.