We all know Steve Stricker for his kindness, treating everyone with the same warmth and respect, whether it’s a top executive on tour or someone stocking shelves at Home Depot. His father-in-law, Dennis Tiziani, once summed it up perfectly, saying Stricker was “as considerate talking to a big executive on tour as he was to the guy working in Aisle 4 at Home Depot.”

After the loss of his father, Bob Stricker, earlier this year, Steve became a bit quieter. His father passed away in January after a long illness, and it clearly shook him. Losing a parent is never easy, and the weight of that grief was felt in Steve’s absence from the spotlight for a while.

But even during that difficult time, Stricker’s kindness never wavered. LPGA legend Judy Rankin shared a touching story showing his completely genuine nature. She took to her X handle and posted, “My 13 yr. Old neighbor came over near dark this evening to show me What he got from Steve Stricker. Raider is a golfer. Steve sent him a personalized autographed picture after he contacted him! He was so happy! Steve, nicest guy ever!”

This is who Stricker is, a man of a golden heart. While his 2023 season saw him secure six victories, 2024 had been a dry spell. Though he had nine top-10 finishes, a win had slipped through his fingers all year. That is, until September, when he finally claimed victory at Sanford International. And of course, this victory was dedicated to his hero, his dad.

Steve Stricker paid tribute to his late father with a win

Just four days after finishing third in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Stricker’s father Bob passed away. That loss left a deep void in Stricker’s heart but gave him a new purpose to win a tournament in 2024 in his father’s honor.

Balancing grief and ambition wasn’t easy, and it took the 12x PGA Tour winner nine long months to make his remarkable comeback on the course. But when he did, it was unforgettable. The 57-year-old paid tribute to his father by sinking a birdie on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff edging out Richard Green to win the Sanford International at Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

That win wasn’t just a victory, it was closure. “I was putting some extra pressure on myself to win one and dedicate one to him, and I finally did. This one’s for my dad,” Stricker said after the tournament.

Stricker may be a golf legend today, but the man behind his success was his dad. Significantly, Bob introduced Steve to the game in the beginning, teaching him how to swing a club and, more importantly, how to carry himself on and off the course. “I owe him everything. We miss him a lot. He was the guy who showed me the game, how to act on the course, how to be a professional,” Stricker shared.

Stricker’s resilience and humility make him an outstanding athlete besides a great person and an even better son.