Steve Stricker

Considering he only made 13 starts this past season, Stricker actually fared pretty well on a per-start basis. Unfortunately for Stricker, fantasy leagues don't generally calculate on a per-start basis. It was only five years ago that Sticker earned more than $4 million in a single season, but since that season, he's cut back on his schedule dramatically. As such, his upside is very limited and with his skills diminishing, he's not a good salary cap option anymore.

When Stricker implemented his trimmed-down schedule a few years ago, the drop-off in production was predictable. What wasn't predictable was his game completely collapsing in 2015. Though he played nine events that season, he earned less than $300k, which brought about many questions entering this past season. He put much of that speculation to rest however as he once again looked like the old Stricker. Stricker didn't break the bank last season, but he came in with a healthy average of almost $100k per event. Unfortunately for salary cap purposes, his upside is limited due to the number of events he'll again play this season. In drafts, Stricker should go in the eighth or ninth round.

Stricker's trimmed-down scheduled did wonders for his game in 2013, but that wasn't the case last year. Normally it would be easy to write this off as just one bad season, but Stricker is starting to get up there in age and a bad season can't simply be dismissed anymore. His upside is well above his 2014 number, which makes him an interesting salary cap pick though. If he chooses to play a lighter schedule again though, it might be tough to make much more than he did in 2014. In draft leagues he should go in 8th or 9th round.

Steve Stricker may have changed the course of the PGA Tour in 2013 by playing an extremely limited schedule, yet succeeding greatly. Skepticism was high entering the 2013 season on whether Stricker could produce on such a limited schedule, but to his credit, nearly every time he teed it up, he played well. The limited schedule will not work for everyone, but for those top-tier players who were considering playing less, this might be the proof that they needed that it can be done. As for Stricker, he'll play a limited schedule again in 2014 and he'll no doubt play well, but his upside will be limited because of it. He's probably not a top-10 pick in draft formats because of the schedule and he's definitely a risky pick in salary cap formats.

At age 45, Steve Stricker is still holding steady, but his play has little chance of improving as the years go on. Stricker's earnings have fallen each year since he topped out at more than $6 million in 2009. When he was a bit younger, the potential for a huge season like that was always there, but not anymore. Stricker will still shine from time to time, and $3-4 million is certainly within reach, but anything more is highly unlikely. That said, it's probably best to avoid Stricker in salary cap leagues this season. As for draft leagues, he should probably go somewhere in the third round.

They don't come much more consistent than Steve Stricker. He's won at least two events in each of the last three years and he hasn't missed a cut on the PGA Tour since 2009. Unfortunately, he's not getting any younger. Stricker turns 45 in February, and if history tells us anything, it's that golfers in their 40s rarely improve. Stricker has already proven the exception to that rule as his best play has come since he turned 40, but it has to tail off at some point, and this could be the year. Sticker peaked in 2009 when he earned more than $6 million, but he's regressed the last two seasons. Sure, earning about $4 million per year isn't exactly a letdown, but fantasy owners must consider how his number will affect their cap.

Few players on the PGA TOUR are as consistent as Steve Stricker. Sure, he's never won a major and is not exactly the most outspoken player on the PGA TOUR, but when you need a player to produce nearly every week, he's your man. That said, Stricker turns 44 in February, and though he's shown no signs of decline, it's best to be aware that he could start going the wrong way at any moment. Best guess, he has at least a few good years left, but it's unlikely he plays much better in 2011 than he did in 2010. Stricker should hang onto a top-10 spot this season, but unlike previous years, he'll probably be near the back of the top-10 as opposed to the front. Stricker is quite the statistical stud, performing well in many of the core categories. The only spot where he's lacking is driving distance.

Stricker continues to produce year in and year out, but he's a little too inconsistent to be considered among the true greats of the game right now. That doesn't mean he won't produce at a high level once again this season, but his production is likely to come in small stretches and not distributed evenly throughout the season. By season's end, it may not matter, but if your season ends prior to the FedEx Cup, then downgrade Stricker. His $6.3 million in winnings from 2009 will be difficult to top since the $7 million mark is reserved for only the elite few. Stricker came from 15th at the end of 2008 to #3 in the final 2009 Official World Golf Rankings.

Steve Stricker didn't exactly fall off the map last year, but he certainly didn't live up to the expectations that he created in 2007. His prospects for 2009 don't look much better and they don't look much worse. He'll likely finish somewhere near his 2008 number.

If you had left the planet for five years, came back and saw this list, you would have to wonder who make the mistake of putting Steve Stricker's name at number four. Heck, I didn't leave the planet, and I am wondering if that is a mistake. Seriously, Stricker played out of his mind in 2007. When he was playing well, it was legit. By that, I mean he was one of the best players in the world for a stretch last year. During the Fed Ex Cup he was going toe to toe with Tiger. With that said, he was playing above his head. Stricker is a good player, but he has never shown this level of ability in his playing career. Look for a return to Earth this season. Prior to The Memorial (2008) the Associated Press reported he has elbow problems; that may explain his recent lackluster play.

From 2003-2005 Stricker missed more cuts than he made. In 2006 he teed it up 17 times and missed only two cuts. Not only did he make more cuts in 2006, he accomplished more when he made those cuts. He followed up a nice run at the U.S. Open (6th), with a runner-up finish at the Booz Allen Classic. After that he didn't play well for a couple months, but bounced back at the season's end with five consecutive top-12s. Stricker, however, falls into the same category as Brett Quigley. Each player had a great year after struggling for many seasons prior. These are tough calls for 2007 as you just don't know if these players found something that fundamentally changed their game or if they just got hot for a stretch. The problem with Stricker looking at 2007 is the number of events he played in 2006. If he plays less than 20 next year he'll have little room for error when trying to match his production from 2006.