Steve Stricker, after brother gets liver transplant, headed to Arizona for Match Play

LOS ANGELES – Steve Stricker says he is going to the Match Play Championship now that his brother had a successful liver transplant.

Stricker was leaning toward not going to Arizona as his 50-year-old brother, Scott Stricker, was waiting on a transplant. He says he has been practicing, but his mind has not been on golf and it would be a long shot if something didn't happen soon.

Later that evening on Thursday, a donor became available. Stricker says the surgery went better than expected.

He says his parents have encouraged him to play next week. It will be his first start of the year.

Stricker is No. 12 in the world and a past champion of this World Golf Championship. The tournament starts Wednesday at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz.