Timing right for Tiger KO
US CAPTAIN Tom Watson has welcomed the timing of Tiger Woods’s decision to declare himself unavailable for next month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
The 38-year-old failed to qualify for the team automatically and yesterday said he did not wish to be considered for one of the three remaining captain’s picks due to an ongoing back injury.
Woods has played four tournaments since returning from back surgery in March, including last week’s US Open where he missed just his fourth cut in 66 Majors.
“I think we can all agree that we need Tiger Woods in this great sport, and he has taken the high road by informing me early on in the selection process,” said Watson.
Woods, a 14-time Major winner, has played in seven Ryder Cups but his match-play golf has failed to live up to the success of his stroke-play, having only been on the winning side once.
He added: “I’m extremely disappointed but the US team and Ryder Cup mean too much to me not to be able to give it my best.”