Ryder Cup door open for Tiger

– US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk unveiled the first eight members of his squad yesterday and heaped praise upon Tiger Woods (above) as a potential captain’s pick to fill out the lineup.

Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Rickie Fowler qualified on points after the PGA Championship ended Sunday.

They join four who previously clinched berths – top-ranked Dustin Johnson, reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed, thirdranked 2017 PGA winner Justin Thomas and second-ranked Brooks Koepka, this year’s PGA Championship and US Open winner.

But Woods, who charged to a runner-up PGA finish with an impressive final round six-under par 64, could still be among the Americans who try to defend the trophy against Europe at Le Golf National near Paris from September 28 to 30.

“What’s important is how well Tiger has played,” Furyk said. “It’s great to see him playing well. His word is trending. His game is trending.”

Furyk will make four captain’s picks in early September to complete the roster and Woods is expected to be among them, although Furyk played coy when asked if Woods, up to 26th in world rankings from beyond 1 200 last December, could help the team.

“It’s a good question. He’s playing very well and there’s probably a lot of people out there who think he can,” Furyk said. “I realise he’s playing really well and I’m really excited about Tiger Woods.”

Woods, in the eighth month of his comeback from spinal fusion surgery, hasn’t won any event at all in five years. – AFP

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