Steve and Izzi Stricker. PGA Tour Champions
Steve Stricker captured a fifth career senior major title earlier this month with a dominant six-shot victory at the Regions Tradition. The only drawback? He missed his youngest daughter’s birthday. But as payback — literally, with the prospect of a big pay cheque — her birthday present involves another major championship.
Izzi, who is verbally committed to play at the University of Wisconsin already, is on the bag for Steve at this week’s Senior PGA Championship. So, in a way, he’s actually putting her to work for her birthday, but the high school junior doesn’t mind, especially if her dad has a lucrative week at the PGA’s new headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
Steve Stricker's daughter Izzy makes her debut on the bag for him this week @seniorpgachamp.
The best part: this is her birthday gift. ?@stevestricker pic.twitter.com/jcRWOqspxP
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 24, 2023
“This is actually a birthday gift,” Izzi said in a video posted by the PGA Tour Champions. “He was not home on my birthday and he called, and was like: ‘Hey, would you like to caddie for me at the PGA?’ So it’s a cool present.”
Hey, it sounds a lot cooler than a gift card to the local mall. Or, whatever teenagers do these days. And as part of the week in the Lonestar State, Izzi also took in a Dallas Stars playoff game with her dad.
Daddy-daughter date night ????@stevestricker and @IzziStricker watching the @DallasStars and @GoldenKnights battle in Game 3 of the @NHL Western Conference Final. Izzi will be on the bag for her dad this week at the @seniorpgachamp. pic.twitter.com/LUNw4DXhG2
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 24, 2023
But on Thursday the hard work really begins for last year’s Wisconsin high school state champion. Izzi is finding out the hard way that those big staff bags are tough to lug around.
“I’m being humbled out here,” Izzi continued. “My body is not in shape for this.” Here’s the video:
Hang in there, Izzi. With the way your dad has been playing, it will be well worth it.