Golf Legend Steve Stricker Returns After Hip Surgery

Golf fans got to witness something special this week when Wisconsin native Steve Stricker returned to competitive play after hip surgery, finishing his final round with a birdie at the course he helped design.

The 2023 champion played alongside his brother-in-law Mario Tiziani at the American Family Insurance Championship at TPC Wisconsin. The duo finished tied for 17th at 23 under par, shooting an impressive 7-under 64 in Sunday's final round.

What made the comeback even sweeter was having his daughter Bobbi caddie for him throughout the tournament. "She just has a lot of fun wherever she's at," Stricker said. "And I have fun being with her. It was a treat to have her out there with me."

The tournament host capped off his return by sticking his approach shot on the 18th hole to within inches of the cup. He sank the birdie putt to close out a successful comeback weekend.

Darren Clarke and Ben Crane won the championship by one stroke, finishing at 30 under par in the best-ball format. For Crane, who turned 50 in March, it marked his first victory on PGA Tour Champions.

Why This Inspires

Stricker's return shows what's possible when you combine patience, family support, and love for what you do. Instead of rushing back, he took recovery week by week while staying focused on what matters most.

Playing with his brother-in-law felt natural after 30 years of practice rounds together. "It's kind of an advantage, really," Tiziani said about their longtime partnership on and off the course.

The tournament proved Stricker's hip is healing well. "I feel great and just try to play a little bit more," he said, though he's not committing to a full schedule just yet.

For now, he's taking it one week at a time, enjoying moments with family on the course he calls home.