Included in US Ryder Cup team:
Tiger to come out of woods
World number one Tiger Woods’ traumatic year received a welcome boost
on Tuesday when he was chosen by captain Corey Pavin as one of the four
wildcard picks to round out the 12-man American Ryder Cup team.
Tiger Woods |
Woods - whose form has dipped after being embroiled in a sex scandal
that resulted in a costly divorce - was named as a captain’s pick along
with Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler for a clash against
the European team on October 1-3 at Celtic Manor.
“I asked him (Woods) last night if he wanted to be part of the team
and he said ‘absolutely,’” Pavin said during the announcement ceremony
at the New York Stock Exchange. “I am happy that he is very excited
about playing and he wants to be on a winning team.”
It will be the sixth Ryder Cup team for Woods, but the first one in
which he needed a captain’s pick to represent his country.
Woods in action |
Knee surgery
The 14-time major winner Woods had finished atop the Ryder Cup
standings every time since his first team in 1997 - though he missed the
2008 victory as he was recovering from knee surgery. He has 71 victories
on the PGA Tour but a poor record in the Ryder Cup.
“I always love playing in Ryder Cup, being part of the team,” Woods
said. “It is an experience you will never forget.
“It is one of those things I have been looking forward to.” Woods and
the three other wildcard picks will be joined by Phil Mickelson, Hunter
Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff
Overton and Matt Kuchar, who all made the team on points after last
month’s PGA Championship in Wisconsin.
Best guys
“I’m very pleased to add these four to Team USA. My job is to put
together the best team to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup,”
said Pavin. “I’m trying to get the best guys to win.”
While Woods’ selection was not a surprise, Pavin’s decision to
include rising star Fowler was.
Fowler is the first PGA Tour rookie to make the American team and the
first captain’s pick to have never won. The 21-year-old has three
runner-up finishes in his 11 months as a professional but had an
excellent record as an amateur in the Walker Cup, winning seven of his
eight matches.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Fowler. “I can bring some youth
to the team and hopefully get the guys pumped up. I can bring some
energy.”
Cink made his fifth straight US team, while Johnson is competing for
the second time.
Very good
“It came down to feelings. I have a gut feeling about Rickie,” said
Pavin. “He’s a very good player. Rickie is my choice. Difficult thing,
but this was my choice.”
Woods, who has been No. 1 for 274 straight weeks, let it be known
that he wanted to be part of Pavin’s team at last month’s PGA
Championship.
Woods world and with it his squeaky clean image fell apart when
stories over extra marital affairs emerged after he crashed his car into
a fire hydrant and tree outside his luxury Florida home late last year.
His divorce was approved two weeks ago and the problems in his
personal life have also taken a toll on his golf game.
He is in the midst of his worst season as a pro, posting his highest
score and his worst finish at the Bridgestone Invitational.
First victory
Woods finished in a tie for fourth at the US Open and Masters but he
is still looking for his first victory of the season.
He has a modest career record of 10-13-2 at the Ryder Cup but Woods
says there are signs that his golf game is finally shaping up ahead of
this year’s event. He shot three rounds in the 60s at the Deutsche Bank
for the first time this season.
“It is nice my game is coming around,” said Woods, who is 3-1-1 in
singles play in Ryder Cup. “I feel my game is not very far away. It
makes it a lot easier going into a pressure-packed environment.”
J.B. Holmes is among those who were left off the team. Holmes - part
of the winning 2008 team - tied for 11th at the Deutsche Bank
Championship in Boston on the weekend.
Impressive
Anthony Kim - who was hugely impressive in the 2008 Ryder Cup but was
out for three mon ths this season because of thumb surgery - Deutsche
Bank winner Charley Hoffman and former US Open champ Lucas Glover also
didn’t make it.
The United States won the Ryder Cup two years ago at Valhalla and
will be attempting in Wales to win for the first time on foreign soil
since 1993 at The Belfry. “On the road, it’s very different,” Woods
said. “You get booed a lot, you get jeered, and people say things they
probably shouldn’t say.
I’ve had that experience and understand how to deal with it and make
it a positive thing.”
NEW YORK, AFP |