THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) -- Steve Stricker looked at the crystal bowl Tuesday and said under his breath, "This looks familiar."
It's the trophy for the PGA TOUR Comeback Player of the Year, and Stricker became the first player to win the award twice -- in consecutive years, no less.
"I won this last year, and I don't know what I did to deserve it again this year," Stricker said. "I was thinking about what I would have to do to win this three years in a row. Usually, you have to have a better year than last year. I don't know if I did that if I would be out of this ballot and maybe on the player of the year ballot."
Stricker was on the comeback ballot with Brian Bateman and Rocco Mediate, and PGA TOUR officials recently kicked around the idea last month of not awarding the trophy every year.
According to TOUR regulations, the award is for players who have returned to their previous form following a period of decline due to poor play, poor health or personal tragedy. The regulations also state that the award will be given out during years in which the Players Advisory Council feels it is warranted.
Ultimately, the TOUR decided it was worth giving out the award this year.
Bateman earned his PGA TOUR card on the number at Q-School, then won the Buick Open. Mediate started the year under a minor medical exemption, and secured his card with a runner-up finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Stricker's comeback in 2006 was easy to document. He didn't have his card, and wound up 34th on the money list. This year was probably a stronger comeback, with his first victory in more than six years, runner-up in the FedExCup and No. 4 on the money list.
But even Stricker felt awkward winning it two years in a row.
"I voted for Brian Bateman," he said.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
