Highest-ranking American golfer Steve Stricker gets better with age

Steve Stricker doesn’t look 45, but he readily owns up to his age.

When Jack Nicklaus won the Masters Tournament 26 years ago, he became the oldest green jacket winner at 46. Stricker, who’s in the prime of his career, is trying to become the second-oldest Masters champion.

“I don’t feel 45. Well, my body does some days,” Stricker said. “But mentally, I don’t feel like it. My game surprisingly keeps getting better. I’m excited to play, and I look forward to coming to Augusta again.”

The highest-ranked Ameri­can in the world, Strick­er continued to show his excellence at the season-opening event in Hawaii. He won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions for his eighth victory since the start of the 2009 season.

Stricker, who’s eighth on the PGA Tour career money list with more than $33 million, said he feels good about his game. And with a pair of top-15 finishes in two of the past three Masters (tie for sixth in 2009, tie for 11th last year), he said he’s getting more comfortable in Augusta.

“I like the way I’ve felt there the past few years,” he said. “I feel like I’m getting a little more confidence there every year, knowing where to hit the ball and where not to hit it.”

Stricker finished in the top 20 in each of the four majors last year. At the Masters, he posted 22 birdies – his most in Augusta – but he couldn’t limit his mistakes. He made four bogeys in each of his first three rounds and five in the final round.

“I know that I can play there,” said Stricker, who’s still seeking his first major victory. “I’ve struggled there over the years, but I’m slowly kind of dealing with what the course can give you and learning about it every year.”

Known as one of the tour’s best putters, Stricker doesn’t bomb it off the tee, but he does have enough length to contend.

“There, you need your whole game,” Stricker said. “It doesn’t favor just one part of your game. You need to drive the ball well. You need to hit great iron shots. And, obviously, you need to chip and putt well. That’s a course where you have to do everything well.”