Stricker a blue-collar Erin-er

When veteran Steve Stricker was denied a special exemption to this week's US Open at Erin Hills in his native Wisconsin, he simply rolled up his sleeves and qualified the blue-collar way.

So determined was Stricker to play in the first US Open in his home state that he hit the practice grounds and then earned his spot in the year's second major by firing rounds of 67-65 during a qualifying event last week in Memphis.

"It's very exciting to be here," Stricker said on Tuesday. "I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but I'm very excited and relieved.