STEVE STRICKER will be busy today, his third wedding anniversary, finalising preparations for a debut appearance in the British Open. But there's no question of his wife, Nicki, being left at home waiting for a phone call. She will be by his side all day - just as one would expect of a conscientious caddie.

Stricker (29), is treading in illustrious footsteps. Earlier this month, he captured the Western Open by a crushing eight strokes to secure his second tournament win of the season. That happens to be the same event that launched Tom Watson's career in 1974.

Commenting on the prospects of a player regarded by astute American observers as possessing "the whole package", Watson said tellingly: "He reminds me of how I was, at that stage of my career." Billy Andrade, joint runner-up in the Western, said: "I don't think he fully realises just how talented he is.

The Strickers were on the practice ground here at Lytham when I caught up with them yesterday: Steve hitting balls while Nicki looked on. He had his first experience of links terrain in the Scottish Open at Carnoustie last year, when a final round of 68 secured him a share of 19th place behind Wayne Riley.

"I then went to try and qualify for the Open at St Andrews, but I didn't even get near," he said. "But while at Leven, I found myself beginning to like the feel of competing on links. The bump and run shots were becoming a little easier and I was learning to accept odd bounces of the ball."

There was no qualifying exercise this time around. Earnings of $925,932 from 17 tournaments in the US, including victories in the Kemper Open and Western Open, comfortably secured an exemption. "I got here on Sunday,, and I've been getting to know the course, he said. "It's a great challenge."

Though he turned professional in 1990, Stricker didn't get through the qualifying school until the end of 1993. By that stage, he and Nicki had been together four years, scratching a few dollars anywhere they could find it, generally on the mini-tours.

"During 1994, my first year on the PGA tour, we heard people say that I would have a tough time winning with her on the bag," he said. "But we always knew it was right. We were never doing it just as a novelty act. We did it because she was the right person for the job."

Standing a little over 5ft 4in and weighing 9st 4lb, Nicki appears to have no problem in toting her husband's championship golf-bag, though at 34lb it is slightly lighter than standard. It was certainly a delightful sight to watch them on television, walking side by side in triumph up the 18th fairway at Cog Hill on July 7th, savouring every moment of what was essentially a home win for him.

"Winning Kemper and the Western in six weeks has been a special time for us," said Nicki (25). "I'm very proud of what Steve has done and it's marvellous that we've been able to share it all. At this stage we have the freedom to be together, but obviously that would change if we were to have a family. We'll just have to see how things go."

She went on: "We have what I would consider to be a professional relationship on the golf course. I know the game (she once played off two-handicap) and I'm not afraid to tell him if I think he's making a wrong decision." Their golfing links are cemented by the fact that her father, Dennis Tiziani, happens to be Stricker's instructor.

Meanwhile, Nicki felt obliged to assert herself on the Friday of the Western, when Steve had slipped to three-over-par for the round after 13 holes. "Nicki kind of kicked me in the butt a little bit," said Stricker. "She pointed out that there were plenty of holes left." The message got home. His response was to go birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie for a round of 69.

He went on: "I'm glad she's with me all the time. Apart from being married, she happens to be my best friend." In fact he trusts her sufficiently to have her remove five stitches from a neck wound following surgery last week to remove a cyst.

Even allowing for his lack of experience of the British Open, Stricker has to be an extremely attractive bet at 80 to 1. The six-footer is a powerful striker of the ball, having driven an average of 295 yards on his way to victory at Cog Hill. He is also a solid putter and possesses the necessary finesse shots with the short irons.

Given those credentials, his odds become all the more interesting when one considers that the player whose talent he resembles, Watson, actually captured the title on his Open debut at Carnoustie in 1975.