What's Up With Steve Sticker?

I've been watching Steve Stricker a little closer this year. He used to be lost in obscurity, washed up, done for, etc and now he is knocking pins down and jamming putts right in the heart!

I guess he was plagued with injuries and illness at some points in his career and now seems to be riding the wave of success quite nicely. The tears in his eyes after this week's victory should be evidence that he knows how lucky he is to be feeling the atonement from previous years woes.

So what's up with the new level of play? As an instructor I am always viewing different player's swings through the microscope. I don't recall too well what Steve Stricker's swing was like prior to his new level of play but let me say a couple of things about his present movement.
First of all, it's simple. There's so much to be said about simplicity in golf. When you use the club the way Steve does in his swing, it's hard to go wrong. When I say 'simple' I mean he maintains a very long arc during the backswing and sets the club with minimal wrist action. In this sense he lets the natural loft of the club do the work for him. Not too many people want to do this because there is such a tendency to swing down on a steep plane and swing left of the target, but when you know how to follow through properly it actually is a much more accurate swing than those with more wrist action. This simplicity gives Steve great control of the iron game. You may have noticed that his wedge game is pretty sharp at the moment and this limited wrist action is why. He is employing the appropriate muscles to make the club move and he is able to make the club move as fast or as slow as he desires. Consistency comes from his simple action and control comes from the ability to power the club with the whole body. Put control and consistency in the same player and you've got the recipe for a winner.
I'm looking forward to next week when the Tour visits Cog Hill and one of my favorite cities, Chicago. Can Steve Stricker hold off a hungry Tiger?