Steve Stricker vaulted to the top of the FedEx Cup and the Golfer Supremacy Rankings with his win at The Barclays. (Courtesy USGA)

Steve Stricker's big win may leave PGA Tour's FedEx Cup stricken

By William K. Wolfrum,
Contributor

Here at the Golfer Supremacy Rankings, we pride ourselves on many things. For one, we have the most comprehensive super-computer in the history of golf rankings at our disposal. We are able to include a vast array of variables into our rankings, such as driving distance, putting skills, and favorite soup. It is seriously comprehensive.

Also, at least up until this week, we had prided ourselves on never using the words "Steve" and "Stricker" consecutively in any post. However - to our super-computer's great surprise - it turns out there's a PGA Tour golfer actually named Steve Stricker. We first noticed him at the British Open, and now we are forced to break our steadfast "Steve" and "Stricker" rule.

Because it turns out that Mr. Stricker has had some success on the PGA Tour before, but had not won since 2001 - long before the advent of things like golf ranking super-computers. So with his stunning victory at The Barclays, and his ascension to the top of the FedEx Cup Playoff Points Chase Standings Rankings Leaderboard Of Fantasticness (or whatever they're calling it), Steve Stricker has broken all the rules.

Golfer Supremacy Rankings

1. Steve Stricker

Comments: A tearful win for Stricker which gives everyone a case of the feel-goods for the time being. Actually it wasn't hard to see the writing on the wall, as Striker's game has been as good as anyone not named Tiger Woods the last half of the PGA Tour season. Now, of course, Striker has the lead in the FedEx Cup. And it's not impossible to see him throw another couple Top-10s into the mix and win it all. Tiger doesn't have any majors scheduled for a while, and it's not inconceivable his return to the Tour could be a flat one. And then Tim Finchem could be looking at Steve Stricker winning it all. And then the tears really will flow.

2. Lorena Ochoa

Comments: Here at the GSR's, we like to always include at least one golfer we're really impressed with. From here on out, we'll call that the "Lorena Ochoa Exemption." Because at this point, there is no more dominant golfer on the planet than Ochoa, who just captured her third consecutive LPGA win by dominating the Safeway Classic. When the best in the game is playing at her best, there is but one word to describe it - Tiger-esque. If you're a fan of golf, competition and good people, Lorena Ochoa has just been a joy in 2007.

3. Chris Baldwin

Comments: Up in Harrisburg, N.Y, Baldwin was doing his part for the FedEx Cup, covering The Barclays for WorldGolf.com. And when they passed the Kool-Aid around, Baldwin went for seconds and thirds, and quickly became the biggest supporter the FedEx Cup has had. All it took was 36 holes, and Baldwin was flipping out, as was evident in his blog post: "Impossible not to call FedEx Cup a success after two rounds of Barclays." Baldwin's reasoning? There was a lot of media there, so it must be a huge, huge success. Of course, after praising how amazing it all was, Baldwin quickly added "Granted this is the first week in the first ever FedEx Cup." Granted. Now slow down on the Kool-Aid, Chris.

4. Denis Watson

Comments: Watson scored an eagle on the second playoff hole in a seven-man playoff to win the Boeing Classic. Craig Stadler was involved in the playoff, which is cool, because, you know, he's the Walrus. So, congrats to Watson, but the GSR super-computer is much to valuable to spend too much time processing information about golfers on the Champions Tour.

Honorable Mention: Colt Knost, 22, won the 107th U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming only the second golfer to win the Amateur and the U.S. Public Links titles in the same year. Knost will be turning pro soon, and will have a legion of fans, especially here at the Golfer Supremacy Rankings, where we will do anything it takes to start a Tiger vs. Colt rivalry.

August 28, 2007

William K. Wolfrum keeps one eye on the PGA Tour and another watching golf vacation hotspots and letting travelers in on the best place to vacation. You can follow him on Twitter @Wolfrum.