Steve Stricker earned his first Ryder Cup cap at 41 and even now as the oldest player in the 2012 Ryder Cup he still thinks of himself as someone who has a lot to learn. “I feel like I’m an old kind of rookie, even though I’ve played in three of these, it’s still a learning experience,” said the 45-year-old Stricker, who is making his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance this week. Both Stricker and Woods have made no secret that they enjoy playing together in these team events and their record reinforces that. They formed a formidable partnership in Presidents Cups and in the most recent Ryder Cup in 2010 in Wales where they went 2-1-0. Stricker says he doesn’t expect any of the four rookies to come to him for advice this week but if asked he will gladly give his opinions. “I do my thing. I’m quiet,” Stricker said. “If somebody asks my opinion or asks me a question, I’ll offer it up. But I’m not one who’s going to be overbearing and be at the forefront. “I try to be a good team player and if somebody were to ask me a few things here or there, I’d surely love to help anybody out who’s asking for it. “Those guys have been around the block way more than I have, Jim (Furyk) and Tiger (Woods) and Phil (Mickelson). “I think even those guys will tell you it’s a learning experience every time we play in one of these events you learn, and if you didn’t, I think you’re missing something.” Stricker said he and Woods make a good team because they are opposites on the golf course. “I don’t know why guys have struggled. I’ve enjoyed playing with him,” Stricker said. “We’ve had some good matches, and we’ve gotten beat up a couple of times, too. “Our games are totally different. He bombs it, I’m more of a control player. But I think our ability to scramble, to get it up-and-down, to make some putts here and there I think is our one connection. We hang out in the team room a little bit and we talk a lot, so it’s a comfortable pairing for the both of us.”
