Uneasy wait for Stricker over Ryder Cup call

NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Steve Stricker faced an anxious wait for the Ryder Cup call that would crown his season after signing off in style at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.

Despite coming agonizingly close, the 41-year-old American has never represented his country in the biennial team competition and made a Cup debut his top priority for 2008.

U.S. captain Paul Azinger is scheduled to announce his four wildcard picks at a New York hotel on Tuesday and Stricker is widely expected to be first in line.

"Hopefully I get a call tonight or early tomorrow morning," Stricker told reporters after chipping in to eagle the par-five last for a three-under-par 68 in the final round at the TPC Boston.

"I really made it my number one goal to be on this Ryder Cup team this year. And I fell short probably by two guys. If Tiger (Woods) is playing, I miss out by another spot."

Stricker finished in ninth spot in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, one place outside the automatic qualifiers.

Had world number one Tiger Woods not shut down his season in mid-June to have reconstructive knee surgery, Stricker would have ended up 10th.

One of the best putters in the game, Stricker played for the U.S. at the Presidents Cup in 1996 and again last year. That experience only hardened his resolve to represent his country at this month's Ryder Cup in Louisville, Kentucky.

APPETITE WHETTED

"Tasting that Presidents Cup last year and the excitement and the fun that we had amongst the players, it whets your appetite for that kind of competition," he said.

"Playing on that team last year definitely made me want to make it on to the Ryder Cup team."

Stricker has been one of the steadiest players on the PGA Tour for the last three years but said he had suffered from self-imposed Ryder Cup pressure over the last month.

"I've been a little tense when I've been out there," he said. "I haven't been as calm, bad shots have been affecting me a little bit more than normal just because I know there is a lot riding it seems on every shot.

"I've been trying to push it to the back of my mind but it's been difficult."

A four-times winner on the PGA Tour, Stricker has posted five top-10s in 19 starts this season, including a playoff loss at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in January.

"I have played well enough this year and last year," the Wisconsin native said. "I think I was 13th or 15th in the Ryder Cup standings coming into this year and I made my way up into the top eight or top nine for a while.

"I feel I have done somewhat what I could except for winning a tournament. Every other year I've been in this situation, I've put so much pressure on myself that I haven't been able to play.

"This year, I think I have learned from those previous failed attempts. I kind of took a 'I don't care' attitude even though deep down, I really do care."

(Editing by Miles Evans)