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Steve Stricker and fellow University of Illinois alums will wear orange Friday at the John Deere Classic.

Stricker, the two-time defending champion, said Illini Day should give him a boost, but admitted that that the support might also put pressure on him.

"You know, it can work both ways," he said. "If you're going well, you know, you can really ride that momentum. If you're playing poorly, you know, you feel like you're dragging everybody down with you. So it's hard. You want to play well and there's that little extra bit of pressure, but it's good to have that support."

Stricker also said Wednesday at the John Deere Classic that he will not be putting Titleist's new irons in play this week.

"I hit them and I really liked them, but I want to hit them some more at home, so probably after the British I'll give them some more time to hit," he said.