Steve Stricker may not be Fit for Presidents Cup

With Fred Couples and Greg Norman set to announce their respective Presidents Cup teams at 5:30 pm (est) today, the U.S. captain may be a man down before they head off to Australia in mid-November.

Steve Stricker on Friday during the Tour Championship at East Lake said, his left arm felt so weak he could not guarantee that he would be 100-percent ready to go by the Presidents Cup November 17-20.

"There's no question I want to be there. I just want to get better."

"That's the frustrating thing. And I've got to look out for next year. I just feel beat up."

If Stricker were not able to go, the U.S. team would be missing a guy that went 4-0 two years ago as Tiger Woods partner.

Last December, it was concluded that Stricker indeed had a herniated disk and a bone spur that was causing his pain.

With a strict exercise program, the 44-year old was able to improve his condition some. But with his withdrawal from the BMW Championship it's clear his condition is not improving.

"I'm this close to saying, 'Let's do surgery' so I can feel good," said Stricker. "I think this has been going on for a while."

Stricker not being able to go would be a big blow to the American team in Australia.

Geoff Ogilvy said of the pairing of Woods and Stricker, "One guy hits every fairway and makes every putt. And his partner is Tiger Woods."

A great quote that many remember and a testament to just how much Stricker has meant to President Cup teams in the past.

An MRI is scheduled for Stricker today (Tuesday) in which he is hoping it will show exactly what the injury, it's extent and what needs to be done to correct it.

"I'm hoping that it's not a big deal, that maybe ... I don't know," Stricker said.

"I don't know that much about it. I'd love to go hit balls right now, but I feel that would be counterproductive."

"That's the frustrating part. I don't know how this is going to get better."

If he is not 100-percent by the time November rolls around, Stricker said it would not be fair to the team if he competed in that condition.

It seems U.S. Captain Fred Couples may indeed have more picks to make than he originally planned on.