After spending weeks in the hospital following Team USA’s historic win at Whistling Straits late last year, Ryder Cup skipper Steve Stricker is on the mend.
Stricker explained how his illness began as a nasty cough and progressed to a disease that produced inflammation around his heart in an exclusive interview with Wisconsin Golf.
“I’m still on the no-activity list.” “I’m still struggling with heart irritation,” Stricker said. “However, that component is improving all the time. They did an MRI soon before Christmas, and the inflammation was still present, but it was subsiding. On the 20th, I’ll undergo another MRI (of January). If it’s gone, I’ll be able to get back to work.
“I’ve dropped 25 pounds.” I’m a freshman in high school. I had lost all of my muscle mass. Dude, I look like an 85-year-old man. “My skin dangles.”
Stricker was discharged from UW Hospital the day before Thanksgiving after an 11-day stay. He was readmitted three days later.
“I have a feeling (the Ryder Cup) had something to do with it,” Stricker remarked. “It’s a letdown after that, isn’t it?” Then your immune system is most likely compromised. It most likely had something to do with it.”
“Now my heart is beating in time. “From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, it was leaping in and out of rhythm,” he added. “Knock on wood,” says the narrator. I’m also taking less medications. My inflammation is decreasing, according to the inflammation level obtained through blood testing. And it had to be since I’m feeling much better now. I’m taking a stroll around the area. I’m starting to become a little more active and developing a better tolerance. As a result, things have clearly improved.”
Stricker’s cardiologist estimated that he would be out for six months before returning to competition, although the exact timeline is unknown.
