WILD THINGS
Tiger and Phil poised to earn Furyk picks alongside hot Bryson
TIGER WOODS and Phil Mickelson are set to be named US Ryder Cup wildcards tonight.
And the veterans will be joined in France by Bryson Dechambeau after the young American completed back-toback Fedex play-off victories at the Dell Technologies Championship in Boston last night.
Woods closed with a levelpar 71 to finish tied-24th – and declined all interviews for the first time this year.
But the former world No,1, who started the year ranked world No.656 and was appointed a vice-captain in February, is guaranteed selection after contending at The Open and US PGA.
Woods, now 42, last played in the Ryder Cup at Medinah in 2012.
Mickelson found his old timing to nail nine birdies in an eight-under-par 63 last night, his best round of the year.
And the five-time Major champion is now set to over- take the mark he shares with Nick Faldo and play a record 12th Ryder Cup on his first-ever wild-card at the age of 48.
“It’s fun to play like that,” Mickelson said. “Hopefully, that will make it a lot easier for Jim (Furyk, the US captain). I’d love to be on that team.”
Furyk will announce his fourth and final pick next Monday.
Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose and Rory Mcilroy all entered the Labor Day final round with a chance of winning in Boston. Rose made four birdies on his back nine in a rollercoaster 68 to finish second to Dechambeau and climb to third in the Fedex Cup standings.
Dechambeau followed his victory at the Northern Trust last week with a two-shot win after his closing 67 saw him finish on 16 under par.
The 24-year-old, who enters the world’s top 10 after starting the year at No.99 and who has his eyes on the No.1 slot, said: “I can’t believe it is my fourth win. It is such an honour to be able to do it so early in my career and I am finally hitting some good strides.
“Moving up the world rankings has been something I have been working on doing for a long time. I am only 24 and hopefully I can get closer to that No.1 spot.”
Dechambeau could partner his friend Woods at Le Golf National in Paris later this month.
After their third-round pairing in Boston, Woods said: “He’s fantastic to play with. He’s great.”
Dechambeau said: “It would be an honour to play with him. I think we could have some great chemistry out there and hopefully maybe intimidate some people. That would be really nice.”
Hatton shot a closing 73 – and swore at his ball after missing a putt on the 18th green – to finish tied-12th along with Mcilroy (70).