Stricker Has Back Surgery


Steve Stricker underwent surgery for a bulging disk on Tuesday. The 47-year-old from Wisconsin, a 12-time PGA Tour winner, had been dealing with chronic back and hip pain for several years.

The one-hour outpatient procedure was performed at the University Wisconsin Hospital in Madison by Thomas Zdeblick and was deemed a success, according to a statement released by the PGA Tour.

"I'm very excited to get back to practicing and competing in 2015 and expect to be 100 percent physically, which really excites me," Stricker said in the statement. "I've been limited the last several years and I'm confident the procedure will allow me to perform at the level I expect from myself.

"I don't have a target date for a return to the PGA Tour at this point. That will very much depend on how my body responds to the surgery and rehab."

Stricker will rest and rehabilitate for six weeks before resuming practice. His doctors anticipate lifting all restrictions after eight weeks.

Stricker, who rose as high as second in the world golf rankings, is currently ranked 41st. For the past two years he's played a limited schedule, primarily to spend more time with his family.

But the bulging disk pared his schedule back even more. In 2014 he played in 11 events, had two top-10s and earned $1,194,747, his lowest total since 2005. Stricker's most recent victory came at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in 2012.