Woods sets sights on historic dual Ryder Cup role

Tiger Woods has told Jim Furyk he wants to make history at September’s Ryder Cup and play in his Paris team as well as act as a vice-captain.

If he is successful then this would be chalked up as yet another first in the 14-time major winner’s astonishing career. Nobody has held dual roles in the competition’s modern era.

Woods, 42, tees it up in the first round of the Genesis Open here tomorrow in the company of Rory Mcilroy and the Irishman may well bring up the subject of the biennial dust-up after he hears about his friend’s intentions.

Speculation is mounting that Woods will be officially named as Furyk’s assistant next week, reprising the role he played with such credit at Hazeltine two years ago. But his ambitions clearly do not start and end in the backroom.

When asked whether he would like to have a player’s uniform or a vice-captain’s, Woods, with a big grin, replied: “Why can’t I have both?” Would that be allowed? “That’s up to our captain,” Woods replied. Pressed whether he had spoken to Furyk about the matter, he responded: “Yeah, I have actually. But Jim didn’t say anything.”

It would obviously take a huge upturn in form and fortune for the player ranked 550th in the world to make the United States team. This is only Woods’s second full-field event in more than a year because of multiple back operations.

Two weeks ago, he commendably made the cut at Torrey Pines and, although reporting that “my feet felt sore”, there were no issues concerning his spinal fusion.

Woods said: “I’m glad I’m playing to get used to my new feels with my fused back. I just want to keep progressing, keep playing tournaments.”

As Riviera Country Club, where he played so often as a teenager, is the only PGA Tour layout where he has played in four or more events and never won, it is a stretch to envisage him in the mix. But how he yearns for a showdown not only with his Florida neighbour Mcilroy but with Justin Thomas, the other member in this Hollywood three-ball.

“I’d love it, That’s something we pray to have happen,” he said, also wearing the cap of tournament host. “I think now they’re starting to see me as a competitor. Once I get into contention, I can handle myself. I just need to get back there.”

And if the old poker-faced Tiger Woods returned, how would his young hombres feel then? “I don’t care,” Woods said. “Hey, it’s winning time.”