Furyk recalls Tiger for Ryder Cup roar
TIGER JUST WILD ABOUT RYDER RETURN
TIGER WOODS was handed a Ryder Cup wildcard last night for the match in Paris later this month — and described it as ‘beyond special’. Woods hasn’t played in the Ryder Cup since the American meltdown at Medinah in 2012 but has made an astonishing comeback this season after fearing his career was over after four back operations. He was chosen by US captain Jim Furyk alongside exciting Bryson DeChambeau, 24 — his likely foursomes and fourballs partner — and fellow veteran Phil Mickelson. It will be Mickelson’s 12th Ryder Cup — a record. Woods said: ‘One of my goals this season was to make the team, but it feels incredible to achieve it, and beyond special.’ The last US wildcard, announced next Monday, is almost certainly Tony Finau. Europe captain Thomas Bjorn names his four wildcards this afternoon.
The announcement last night might have been devoid of suspense but it was a momentous one nonetheless. Tiger Woods will play in the Ryder Cup in Paris later this month after being handed a wildcard alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson by US captain Jim Furyk.
It will be Woods’s eighth Ryder Cup appearance in all but his first since the American meltdown at Medinah in 2012, as his stirring comeback this season reaches another landmark.
From worrying about whether he would be able to walk again without pain 18 months ago, the 42- year- old has stunned the sporting world over the course of 60 rounds this year that has seen him contend for the Open and the US PGA and rise more than 1,050 places in the world rankings.
There were many who mocked in February when Woods said he intended to make the team as a player rather than an assistant captain but he proved them wrong as he built an irresistible case during the summer.
‘One of my goals this season was to make this team but to achieve it is beyond special,’ said Woods. ‘I enjoyed helping out at the last Ryder Cup but there’s nothing like playing.’
As to who will be his fourballs and foursomes partner, look no further than the 24-year-old man of the moment with whom he has built a curious friendship. Woods will seek to shepherd DeChambeau, the gawky physics major with his own unique method who has just completed the rare feat of back-to-back victories on the PGA Tour.
One of the reasons why Woods has such an average Ryder Cup record in foursomes and fourballs — he has won nine matches while losing 16 times — is that too many of his 12 playing partners were simply in awe of him. That will not be the case with the brash DeChambeau, who has played numerous practice rounds with Tiger this year.
‘I think we could be a great team out there,’ said DeChambeau, following his third win in nine events at the Dell Technologies Championship in Boston on Monday. ‘I think that maybe we can potentially intimidate a couple of people.’
When DeChambeau had his meltdown over the closing holes at the european Open in July he turned to Woods. ‘I’ve talked to him over the past couple of months about the importance of when you hit bad shots you make sure you miss in the correct spots, because it makes all the difference,’ explained 14-time major champion Woods.
‘Bryson is fantastic to play with. Sometimes he talks so much I have to tell him to shut up but I like that he’s fiery. We all know he is extremely intelligent but his heart — he gives it everything he has.’
Their friendship came about soon after Woods returned last January. DeChambeau muscled in and asked his childhood idol if he could join him for a practice round. It proved anything but a one- off. DeChambeau kept asking, to the point where their practice rehearsals are now almost a weekly occurence. In Boston last week, they played together for the first time in competition — and DeChambeau, suitably inspired, shot 63.
‘It is one of the weird ones,’ said Woods, of their friendship. ‘It kind of just evolved.’ It could also set the Ryder Cup alight.
europe captain Thomas Bjorn will announce his four wildcards this afternoon.