Category: Steve Stricker - HOPE JOY GOLF

Tees2greens.com archived blog Posts

I remember finding a golf blog and message board site called tees2greens.com and fell in love - I commented on posts and messages and got to "know" a few other posters on the site. A while later, I got a message that if I wanted to I could have my own blog on the site...it was the most amazing offer and back in 2009 I wrote my first blog. I loved bantering with the head blogger, Sam Johnson, and I was thrilled to share my love for golf. The website had a great run, but all good things come to an end. The webmaster gave me a chance to download all my posts and here they are. A few years later I started hopejoygolf.com and restarted blogging. Life and technology created some starts and stops, but finally, 2025 is reenergizing me to blog again. I'm still a work in progress, but for now, if you're here, check out some of my thoughts back in my beginner blogging days.

The PGA Championship and what's to come next...

1/5/2016

Posted Aug 16 2012, 07:03 AM by Cathy Erickson
Despite my best efforts (cheering, praying, rally caps, eating cheese) Steve Stricker did not get his first Major championship last Sunday. After Thursday's round, I almost felt like things had already slipped away when he carded a 2-over par 74, and the leader was at -6. But on Friday the weather came into play and a +1 (73) was almost 5 shots better than the scoring average of just over 78. 45 players shot 80 or worse that day (including Matt Kuchar- ouch!). At +3 he was still 7 shots back, but he made the cut and would be playing the weekend.

Who is Number One?

1/5/2016

Posted May 11 2012, 12:20 PM by Cathy Erickson
Or maybe the bigger question is...do we really need to care? I've pondered and studied the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) a few times of the past few years. It is a Numbers Nerd's dream of points, averages, and weightings that determines who should be considered the best golfer in the world...for the week. But the thing is, it's really not about the best player "that week" because the rankings take into consideration months worth of a player's statistical finishes, weighted by the strength of field and their final position in the tournament.

I just want to see my favorite players on TV...

1/5/2016

Posted Mar 14 2012, 11:37 AM by Cathy Erickson
In Minnesota, we've been gifted with some beautiful weather the past few days...temperatures have crept into the 60's and I even noticed a forecast that said parts away from Lake Superior may see 70's today. Sounds like perfect golf weather, right? Well, to get the full perspective, 2 weeks ago we were pummeled with about 3 feet of snow over a 7 day period, after going almost all winter with no snow on the ground! So while the temps sound dreamy, the reality is that there is still a good foot of snow on most of the course. No golf shoes just yet. (side bar: thanks to all my friends in warmer places that told me about their great golf weather on Facebook...and when I say "thanks" I mean that sarcastically!!)

I'm a believer! PGA Tour golf is getting exciting again!

1/5/2016

Posted Mar 08 2012, 12:23 PM by Cathy Erickson
There's nothing like good old fashioned competition to make things more exciting. And in 2012 I think that's what we're getting on the PGA Tour. Usually, the first few months of the season (or just about every tourney before the Masters) are often not much to write home about. I remember discussions about shortening the PGA Tour season by taking tourneys off the front and back end because football, basketball, and hockey are what people are really interested in during fall & winter. Many players opted out of these tourneys, and if there wasn't a great field, it didn't get a whole lot of coverage.

Match Play Madness

1/5/2016

Posted Feb 21 2012, 10:32 PM by Cathy Erickson
Sixty-four of the top players in the world are in Arizona for the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and play starts Wednesday. Missing from the field are Phil Mickelson (who is on a family vacation) and Paul Casey (who is still recovering from an off-season injury). It is player's Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) that qualifies him for the tourney, so there may be some international players that are less familiar to those that just follow the major Tours.

But have no fear, there are all kinds of A-listers ready to take on their first opponent . The top seeds are: Luke Donald (1), Rory McIlroy(2), Lee Westwood(3), and Martin Kaymer(4)...they are the top seeds in their respective brackets. Steve Stricker is the top American seed (5), with Webb Simpson right on his heels (6). Tiger Woods is 20th on the OWGR, and 5th in his bracket. Interestingly, not that long ago he was outside the top 50 on the OWGR list.

Making Room for 2012!

1/4/2016

Posted Dec 28 2011, 02:47 PM by Cathy Erickson
It's the last week of 2011 - I know I've said it before, but man, time sure flies sometimes. I'm sure you've gotten your fill of the "year in review" articles, lists, and rankings that pop up all through December. Best shots, best players, best equipment...you name it, and I'm sure someone has written about it.

I have to admit that I wasn't a very good golf fan this year - my priorities were shuffled and my golf passion dropped a few rungs on the ladder (it was an awful feeling by the way!). I didn't keep up with my favorite players as much, and more importantly, I didn't play nearly as much golf as I should have. But that's not to say I didn't have golf on the brain sometimes. Here are some of the things I remember being on my mind in the 2011 PGA Tour world...

The Measure of a Man

1/4/2016

Posted Aug 24 2011, 11:53 AM by Cathy Erickson
A favorite song of mine by a group called 4Him, is called Measure of a Man…

It’s been on my mind lately as I have been hearing bits and pieces about the upcoming President’s Cup and the selection process that will happen in about a month. The “filler version” of the Ryder Cup in off years definitely has its share of great players, drama, and talent, but it’s felt to me like it was almost “gimmicky”…”the Tie”, Michael Jordan, I don’t know…maybe it just hasn’t been around long enough to be revered yet, at least not in my mind anyway.

Ode to Steve Stricker

1/4/2016

Posted Aug 11 2011, 12:20 AM by Cathy Erickson
It's late, and I just got done picking my players for the PGA Championship fantasy golf team. I've decided that I wanted to dedicate my golf thoughts this week to my favorite golfer, Steve Stricker. You know the story, a little jump start in the beginning of his career, then a slump, then hours of practice in the Wisconsin winters and before you know it he's comeback player of the year two years in a row!!

There's lots to love about Steve...he's not afraid to cry (just ask Peter Kostis!), he has a sweet putting stroke, his swing is simple yet powerful, and he's a Titleist guy! I believe in his character, he gives back to his community and to the golf world, and truly believe he appreciates every opportunity he's been given.

Hope, Joy, GOLF!

1/4/2016

Posted Aug 03 2011, 03:30 PM by Cathy Erickson
Lots going on in my golf head this week...First of all, it's August!! This means I only have about 2 months of decent golf season left. I'm sad that I haven't been out on the course nearly as much as I should have, but I've decided that I will be kicking my priorities around a bit to make more room for my happy place.

Let's see, what else...oh, yes, Tiger is back. I've got to believe there are all kinds of betting possibilities for the "comeback" this week at the Bridgestone. Since there is no cut at this limited field event he eliminated that one, but I'd say there is a fairly large contingent that thinks he will be marginal at best, and considering his injuries and time away from golf, it's probably not a bad guess. But you know there also others that believe he'll be hoisting another WGC trophy come Sunday - and I guess you never know. From what I could see on a betting odds web site, he's still a 20/1 pick ahead of Phil, Nick Watney, Adam Scott, and Martin Kaymer. Best odds are McIlory at 14/1, so it looks to me that there is a lot of belief in TW out there. As I said last week, I hope that being back on the course will sprout some joy into Tiger's life, regardless of how he finishes. The funniest thing I've read so far is a comment from Chuck over at my favorite Fantasy Golf website, http://www.kerplookee.com/. He put Tiger on his squad for the week and followed it up with: "And I know I'm going to regret my Tiger pick. The soul patch made me do it." Laughed out loud!

The British Open Can Make Golf Look Like Hard Work!

1/4/2016

Posted Jul 14 2011, 04:25 PM by Cathy Erickson
Hello Golf Fans!

It's another Major week in golf and I'm excited to talk about it, but I can't go any farther until I spend just a few lines praising the great win last week at the John Deere by Steve Stricker! I was attending a very important birthday party that Sunday (my nieces, Ce Ce & Sami are 3!) so I missed watching the final round, but I did get to see the final hole ...the amazing bunker shot and the putt/chip from the back of the green for the win. I loved that fist pump!! And I think it's important to note that this was his 3rd victory there in a row...WOW! And this wasn't a slouchy field either. I mean many of the big boys were already over the pond, but he definitely had some contenders. Way to go Steve!!

My best golf therapy is right here!

1/4/2016

Posted Jun 14 2011, 02:02 PM by Cathy Erickson
Hi Golf Friends...man, it's been awhile since I've written and I can tell - I've missed the "therapy" I get when writing about my favorite thing in the world. Life's been a challenge lately, but this past weekend I was on the course and my happy place reminded me that I can't forget what keeps me grounded. So many golf thoughts came to mind that I couldn't help but feel a renewed spirit...so here I am!

I'm going to have to "scatter shoot" like Sam this week because I've got a lot of golf on the brain! Where to start?!

Who Stole My Masters Enthusiasm?

1/4/2016

Posted Apr 14 2011, 09:55 AM by Cathy Erickson
Another Masters is in the books and while there was certainly a lot of excitement come Sunday afternoon, for some reason this year just fell short for me...isn't that strange? It's my favorite week of the year for heavens sake!

I'm happy for Charl Schwarzel and I think I'd like to be a fan! But, honestly, I didn't know a whole lot about him. Tiger's front 9 charge on Sunday caught my interest and I found myself actually hoping he'd be in the mix, for golf's sake of course. But when he missed the putt on #12 his momentum changed and he seemed to stall out. I kept hoping for a little more magic, but it just wasn't his time this week.

Yep, it's my favorite week of the year!!

1/4/2016

Posted Apr 06 2011, 11:08 AM by Cathy Erickson
It's finally here...Masters Week. Are you already anticipating a memorable Sunday final round like I am? Now there's a lot to take in before we get to Sunday, pre-tournament interviews, expert picks, the par-3 contest, live streaming coverage on http://www.masters.com/, early round coverage on ESPN, along with probably a zillion tweets, countless blogs, and some you tube videos. I hope I can keep up!

I'm terribly jealous of the fact that a few of my golf pals headed to Augusta for the practice rounds this week. I tried to be happy for them, really, I did, but jealousy is a powerful emotion! I hope they got some great photos!!

As the Calendar Turns

1/3/2016

Posted Dec 30 2010, 10:43 AM by Cathy Erickson
I don't know about you, but this last week of December is a time for me to say good-bye to the current year and prepare for the next. My mental photo album gets sketchier every year (this is what happens when you get older), but I still have a pretty good slide show of great golf memories this year. And at the same time I find a part of my brain already getting ready for the season ahead, even though it's at least 5 months away. And it's that "resolution" and "goal setting" time of year, so pondering some golf goals seems appropriate, too.

Who could have predicted that? 2010 Crystal Golf Ball Results

1/3/2016

Posted Dec 16 2010, 09:52 AM by Cathy Erickson
Happy Holidays! Well, now that the Tour season is officially over, I guess it's time to dig out my "predictions" post from back in January to see how I did. I was nervous...I couldn't really remember what I said, except for that I was sure Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar were mentioned. Okay...let's see how I did!

Good-bye September, Hello Ryder Cup!

1/3/2016

Posted Sep 30 2010, 12:42 PM by Cathy Erickson
What in the...? It's already September 30! It seems like just yesterday I was looking forward to my favorite golf month of the year and now, just like that, it's over. I had some fun days golfing this past month, and even though we had a few rainy days, I was able to get out on the course for at least 9 holes whenever I didn't have to work late (which was too often if you asked me!).

The sun setting earlier has been a total drag. By 7pm it's very hard to see the golf balls and there is a definite chill in the air by that time, too. How can daylight savings time not be until November 7??? This does not help golfers in Minnesota at all!! If we could get that extra hour NOW, I'd be a lot happier.

Don't listen to them...it's okay to like the end of the season!!

1/3/2016

Posted Sep 23 2010, 05:42 AM by Cathy Erickson
There is really nothing better than having your favorite golfers being in contention coming into a Major or an end of season event like the Tour Championship...or the FedEx Cup finale. I'm thinking back to Greg Norman's hey days...it was like an emotional roller coaster for me - the highs of seeing him winning and crushing blows of seeing a few heart breaking losses.

It's sort of hilarious that I am STILL picturing Larry Mize in the purple striped shirt jumping and running after knocking his chip in at the Masters all those years ago. But that is what being a golf fan is all about.

September means great golf!

1/3/2016

Posted Sep 01 2010, 09:35 AM by Cathy Erickson
Holy cow, it's September 1. How did this happen? I am not ready to head into the downward slide of the golf season yet! It's funny, last night as we were playing in our weekly "Scramble Tuesday" event, it was like Mother Nature decided to let us know September was on the door step. It was hot and muggy as I left my office yesterday afternoon and my house felt like someone had left a heat lamp on all day when I walked in.

The Best Golf Week of the Year!

1/3/2016

Posted Apr 07 2010, 08:36 AM by Cathy Erickson
We're just a few short hours from getting our first live golf action from the 2010 Masters...the Par-3 contest. I don't know about you, but I'm almost giddy with anticipation. Five days of golf heaven for me - the beauty, the tradition, the drama, and the reverence for the game.

Once again, though, life is getting in the way of my happy place. If you remember last year, I had my refrigerator catastrophe elbowing into my Masters time. I was not happy! This year, it's a curling event on Saturday that requires more attention than I had hoped to give. But I promise you, I will be on my sofa on Sunday afternoon for arguably the best 5 hours of golf of the year.

It's no Fantasy, it's a Nightmare!

1/3/2016

Posted Mar 17 2010, 07:45 AM by Cathy Erickson
My fantasy leagues are ruining my joy of watching golf. Oh sure, everything would be great if I could pick the winners each week, but I'm in the same pattern I get in every year...the first week I do great, then comes the slow and painful decent down the leader board, never to be seen again.

I battle the urge to pick my favorite players and instead I study stats, streaks, and past tournament performance. Usually I end up with a little of both in my final selections, but I'm usually picking the wrong guys in each category.

Happy Birthday to my Blog!

1/3/2016

Posted Mar 03 2010, 08:59 AM by Cathy Erickson
I remember it like it was yesterday...a note came in my inbox from the super cool Tees2Greens Webmaster inviting me to have my own blog right here at T2G. A spot in the internet world where I can share my love for golf to my heart's content...how could I pass up an opportunity like that??!! I'm sure he didn't know it, but that note meant more to me than I can explain.

Golf on the Brain

1/3/2016

Posted Feb 17 2010, 04:58 PM by Cathy Erickson
As I stepped outside at the end of my work day I was greeted by a bright sun and an unusually warm breeze on my cheeks...it honestly felt like golf weather!! The thermometer in my car said 46 degrees...almost twice as warm as the last time I hit golf balls. It was a welcome surprise. Of course it's only February and we've got our share of snow, but for a few moments I let my mind wander and I thought about swinging my driver. Then I called a favorite golf pal and asked if he wanted to go golfing. It was great to talk because in the off-season it can get much too long in between visits with golf friends.

Make no mistake about it, this is all about Steve Stricker!

1/3/2016

Posted Feb 09 2010, 11:14 AM by Cathy Erickson
Can you picture the smile on my face? I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I'm a little bit giddy about seeing Steve Stricker hoisting the trophy at the Northern Trust Open (and seeing the "What's in Steve Stricker's Bag"!!).

As I gave him a standing ovation in my living room Sunday afternoon, I couldn't help but think back to some of the commentary, or lack of commentary, about arguably the nicest guy on the PGA Tour at the end of last year. For those that didn't pay attention, Steve Stricker had a GREAT 2009 season!

Golf is back, and I couldn't be happier!! Well, almost...

1/3/2016

Posted Jan 14 2010, 08:00 AM by Cathy Erickson
I can't tell you how much fun I had watching golf last weekend, even if it was just for one day. I headed down to the Twin Cities last weekend to visit my brother and his family, and along with that came a big screen TV and the Golf Channel (if it's possible to be in love with a big screen TV I definitely am!)! I watched a re-run of part of Friday's round and then got to see Saturday's round later that evening. Hawaii is a beautiful place!

My 2010 Crystal Golf Ball...

1/3/2016

Posted Jan 06 2010, 01:39 PM by Cathy Erickson
It's Here!! The 2010 PGA Tour season starts this week! I realize for some golf fans the PGA season starts with the Masters and ends with the PGA Championship, but after finding an exploded case of Diet Coke with Lime in the back of my car on Monday (yes, it was THAT cold in my garage!), I need the warm thoughts of golf and Hawaii to replace the dread of having to clean out my car...thank goodness there were no golf clubs back there!