PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – At 6:45 a.m. ET, Steve Stricker’s phone buzzed – he was now the first alternate into The Players Championship.
Stricker had been keeping tabs on the alternate list into the PGA Tour’s marquee event after starting last week as the fifth alternate. One by one the dominos fell in his direction and when he moved to the top of the list he knew it was time to act.
“I knew [Justin Rose] wasn't doing so well. He hadn't even hit a ball from what I understand, so they scrambled the pilots together,” Stricker said.