Defending champion Steve Stricker stormed to a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Barclays Classic on Friday, putting the American in prime position to seal a coveted Ryder Cup berth.

"I've got two tournaments going on within one," Stricker told reporters after a sizzling seven-under-par 64 gave him a 10-under 132 total at Ridgewood Country Club.

"That Ryder Cup is there a couple of weeks away when he makes that decision," Stricker said of U.S. Captain Paul Azinger's four final picks to complete the 12-man team.

Stricker finished one position away from automatic selection to a first Ryder Cup team when Ben Curtis overtook him at the PGA Championship by tying for second behind Irishman Padraig Harrington.

"I'm trying like heck to keep it out of my mind, but it's nearly impossible," Stricker added.

"I want to make that team. I think I could help that team. I think I would be a good addition but it's hard when I'm thinking about that and when I'm trying to play golf here, too."

Stricker, a 41-year-old Wisconsin native, seems to thrive at New York area courses. Last year, he won the Barclays when it was held across the Hudson River at Westchester Country Club for his first strokeplay victory in 11 years.

"This reminds me of home to tell you the truth. Even though we are out east, this looks like a course that could be very easily in the Midwest somewhere," he said.

"The grasses are the same. We putt on poa annua greens a lot where I'm from, it's bentgrass fairways, bluegrass rough and everything reminds me of home."

That familiarity helps, but does not keep Ryder Cup thoughts from encroaching.

"I feel a little more pressure to tell you the truth coming into this week, just because of that reason trying to make the team," he said. "I've got two things going on at one time and I'm trying my best to separate them out."

Stricker has been close to being selected before.

"I've been on the other end of the spectrum from two other captains on a Sunday night saying, 'We're not going to pick you,'" Stricker said about consolation calls he received in 1999 from Ben Crenshaw and two years ago from Tom Lehman.

"This time I hope that... call comes through that I'm going to be on the team."