Woods eyes Ryder Cup as comeback progresses
LOS ANGELES: Tiger Woods says he has a long way to go in his latest comeback, but the former world number one is already eyeing an ambitious Ryder Cup role.
Amid speculation that US team captain Jim Furyk could soon name Woods as his vice-captain for the biennial USA v Europe match play showdown in Paris in September, Woods was asked if he’d rather get that nod or — if his game has progressed enough — a captain’s pick to play.
“Why can’t I have both?” Woods said. “I like both.”
No one has held such a double role in more than half a century.
But Woods, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, said he’d already spoken to Furyk about it.
“He didn’t say anything,” Woods said, although Furyk told Golf Channel that he wouldn’t rule it out.
“I don’t think it’s impossible,” Furyk said.
Woods served as an assistant to captain Steve Stricker on the US Presidents Cup team that crushed the Internationals in New Jersey in September and also served as an assistant to captain Davis Love on the victorious US 2016 Ryder Cup team.
Woods returned to the PGA Tour for the first time in a year with a tie for 23rd at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines three weeks ago. Yesterday, he started his campaign in the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club.
He’s currently 103rd in the US Ryder Cup standings. The top eight in the standings' in August will earn automatic qualification, leaving Furyk four captain’s picks.
“He’s played one event and looked pretty solid and now we’re talking Ryder Cup,” Furyk said. “It just shows you how good he’s been.”