Steve Stricker shoots course record

Steve Stricker has battled though golf's equivalent of the doldrums to stand just one good round away from what could be his first victory in a major.

The quietly-spoken, 40-year-old from Wisconsin had felt so low about his troubled game that he had considered giving it all up, but when he realised there was nothing else he could usefully do, he decided to re-dedicate himself to his chosen sport.

His form came back to him this year and on Saturday he shot one of the great Open rounds with a Carnoustie course-record equalling 64 that left him in second place, three strokes behind leader Sergio Garcia going into Sunday's finale.

Playing in the Open for the first time in five years, Stricker said he had had his fill of soul-searching.

"I played well in '96 and I had some good years in between then and 2001 and then after that I fell off the map for a while," he said.

"I didn't have the desire that I really wanted and I really wasn't sure if this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

"I started a family so things were kind of up in the air."

It wasn't until the end of the 2005 season that Stricker was able to finally make up his mind, going back to Tour school and re-dedicating himself to the sport.

Above all else, he said, he managed to relax more on the golf course and control his emotions.

"I've worked harder at it to get a better attitude," he said.

"I've enjoyed going to tournaments. I'm very comfortable with my game and what I'm doing out on the course.

"It's not such a life-or-death situation. I'm more at ease and I think that's resulted in some better play."

The results have been there for all to see this year as Stricker has posted five top 10 finishes on the US PGA Tour including a second place behind KJ Choi at the AT&T National earlier this month.

He was also in contention on the final day at the US Open at Oakmont last month before his putting let him down.

Tackling the British Open over the links at Carnoustie was another matter as in seven previous cracks at the tournament, Stricker has done no better than a tie for 22nd in his debut at Royal Lytham in 1996. Last year at Hoylake he was a dismal tied for 59th.

But Stricker feels he has the game to one day win a major, be it in Britain or elsewhere.

"The answer as to why I'm doing well in majors is I enjoy where par is a good score. I enjoy just the competition of every hole.

"Sometimes at these majors making a par is even more rewarding than making a birdie.

"Hopefully I can just put it together tomorrow, get a little bit stronger on the inside coming down the stretch and hopefully do it."