Steve Stricker wanted to watch the LPGA Tour’s best play in the CME Group Tour Championship. He got a bit of a bonus plan Saturday.
Stricker, the 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, found himself with a microphone, working as an on-course analyst with Golf Channel/NBC’s Jerry Foltz for the third round.
“He teed them up for me all the way around, and then I had to stick my foot in my mouth on a hole and try to overrun somebody that was calling a shot,” Stricker said after following around the last group, leader Sei Young Kim, Jin Young Ko, and Lexi Thompson at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.
Stricker said “rookie mistake” after he realized what was happening.
Foltz gave his protegé high marks.
“I’ve done it a lot with a lot of different people, and (LPGA Tour player) Morgan (Pressel) the other day as well,” Foltz said. “We’ve known each other for 27, 28 years.
“He was absolutely a natural at it. First, I would tee him up and asking questions, and finally I just started pointing at him and letting him go. He is a natural, just like Morgan was.”
Stricker said Foltz made him feel comfortable.
“He made it easy,” Stricker said. “It can be hard. You’ve got a lot of people talking in your ear, and kind of overwhelming at times, but he made it pretty easy.”
Stricker already has been impressed watching the LPGA Tour players.
“I love watching these girls play, these women play,” he said. “I really do. I’m a fan of golf.
“I think because they’re so technical and they’re so technically good, you can learn a lot of things.”
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Stricker had approached Wasserman Sports’ Taylor Ives about getting out to watch the round. Of course there were no fans except for some Tiburón members and perhaps some connected with title sponsor CME Group.
“I said ‘Is there an opportunity to go around?’ and I pursued it,” Stricker said. “I’ve always thought it would be interesting to be out there. I wanted to be out there and watch these girls.
“I didn’t realize I was going to be in the last group with Jerry when I asked that question. They kind of threw me right into it. Again, he made it so easy, and so simple, and really talk about what I would see as a player. From that standpoint, it just makes things easier.”
When asked if he was returning Sunday, Stricker joked that he’d been fired. But he did get a feel for TV that may turn into something down the road.
“If playing doesn’t work out anymore, I could see doing it,” he said.
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