American Stricker fit for Presidents Cup

Top-ranked American Steve Stricker said Monday he had recovered from a neck injury and was fit to play in this week's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. Stricker, 44, who won four points partnering Tiger Woods in the United States' last win over the International team in 2009, has not played since the Tour Championship in Atlanta in late September. But after practising on Monday at this week's venue Stricker said the neck injury was not a concern. "I feel good, tired from the travel probably more than anything," Stricker said ahead of Thursday's tee-off. "But my body feels good, my neck is really a non-issue." Stricker, at number five the highest ranked American in Melbourne this week, is 9-6 in his three previous Presidents Cup tournaments and said he had targeted the ninth Presidents Cup teams event as his comeback. "I specifically took time off at home and rested it," he said. "I've been doing some at-home treatments with a traction device and had a cortisone shot about five weeks ago. So, I was aiming for this to be the healthy part. "This is an important event. You work all year long to try to make the team and get on the team and the last thing you want to do is get injured and not be able to play. "So I'm really looking forward to playing, it's good to be here." The United States have won six of the previous Presidents Cups with the International team, drawn from non-European players, winning when the event was last played at Royal Melbourne in 1998. The 2003 edition at George, South Africa, finished in a tie.