Steve Stricker and Lee Westwood Comebacks Should Give Heart to Ernie Els and Others

The Steve Stricker comeback has to be the story of the year in golf. One of golf’s most promising young talents in the late 1990’s, Stricker dropped off the face of the earth because of hacker-like tee balls, primarily with the driver. It is really a 2-year comeback as his 2007 play was a continuation of his reversal of form in 2006. Last year, despite not earning his Tour card in 2005 Q-school and playing relatively little, Stricker very nearly made the US Ryder Cup team. And this year – particularly the 2nd half - has been incredible, as he has exceeded in a big way the best play of his life.

Unfortunately overshadowed by Stricker has been the resurgence of Lee Westwood. At the turn of the century in his mid 20s he was ranked as high as number 4 in the world, behind only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els. Westwood, too, dropped out of sight, falling outside of the top 250 in world rankings. 2006 saw Westwood start to return to form but was still a surprise captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup team. He played well, especially while teaming with the emotional favorite Darren Clarke. While playing solid without much in the way of big success in the States this year, the now 34-year-old Westwood has been phoenix-like in Europe, rising to 12th on the Order of Merit largely on last week’s win of the British Masters at the former Ryder Cup venue, The Belfry – Brabazon Course. This, on top of 3 straight top 10 finishes. Look for 2008 to be a big year for him, possibly even a major contender.

It cannot be stated strongly enough just how hard it is for one of the world’s best to suffer a period of play lasting years where they have little to no chance of contending, much less winning. How many other former worlds’ top golfers are watching this and plotting their own comebacks? Ernie Els? Definitely. Perhaps even David Duval and Ian Baker-Finch.