Stricker providing Americans with Cup inspiration

By Steve Keating

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - From a visit to the Muhammad Ali Centre to a pep talk from former-college football coach Lou Holtz, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has searched high and low for ways to inspire his team for their showdown with Europe.

Azinger may have to look no further than his own locker room to find the man capable of providing the Americans with that lift for the matches starting on Friday.

If perseverance and determination are key ingredients for Ryder Cup success, 41-year-old Cup rookie Steve Stricker will provide the Americans with plenty of both as they look to end European Cup domination at Valhalla Golf Club.

Twice voted the PGA Tour's comeback player of the year, Stricker's career had once appeared headed towards the golf scrap heap before a turnaround that has led him to realizing his Ryder Cup dream.

"This has been a goal of mine since becoming a Tour member," Stricker told reporters. "I've been close a couple of times. I've gotten a call twice from captains on the other end of it, saying you were close but we can't pick you.

"Every time I've gotten that call it makes you think a little bit harder and try a little bit harder to try and make this team, and finally I'm here.

"This was right at the top of my list, trying to be here and finally making it here has been a huge goal and I finally achieved it."

After failing to earn one of the eight automatic selections to the U.S. squad, Stricker's hope of making the team was reduced to being one of Paul Azinger's four captain's picks.

Despite a number eight world ranking, Stricker was far from confident about his chances leading to a few stress-filled weeks.

Justin Leonard, who has displayed perseverance of his own in returning to the U.S. Ryder Cup squad for the first time since 1999, rates Stricker as the team's Muhammad Ali for the way he refused to give up on his dream.

"Steve Stricker may be fairly close (to being our Ali)," said Leonard. "His game went south for a while and he was able to fight back and get on to a stage like this.

"I know that I drew a lot of inspiration from Steve through '06 and the middle part of last year watching his game come back into form and the way he was able to get back to being one of the best players in the world."

(Editing by Clare Lovell)