This should sound familiar: A PGA Tour player deeply devoted to his family stops playing until the Bob Hope Classic because he wants to spend time at home.

For Steve Stricker, his decision means leaving a lot on the table.

It has been an amazing year for Stricker, who failed to get through the final stage of Q-school and could only get in three tournaments the first 15 weeks of the season. With two top 10s in the majors and solid play just about everywhere else, he was considered for the Ryder Cup team and moved all the way up to No. 32 on the money list.

Stricker, however, turned down exemptions to Greensboro and Disney. His season is over.

``I really don't have much to gain getting in the Tour Championship, other than the prestige,'' he said. ``I'm in the U.S. majors next year. I've got a five-month-old daughter, and it's nice to be at home. All my tournaments came at a compressed time, which was good. I have no complaints. It was a great year. But my wife is ready to have me at home. And I was ready to go home.''

This is nothing new.

Stricker, a Midwestern man at heart, usually stops playing in September to spend time with his children (he also has an 8-year-old) in Wisconsin and to hunt. He hasn't had a choice the last few years, and sure didn't think he would have that luxury this year.

© The Canadian Press, 2007