Green light for Tiger’s Ryder Cup dream
American ryder cup captain Jim Furyk has given Tiger Woods the green light to pursue an unprecedented dual role at this year’s match in Paris in September.
Furyk is expected to name Woods as a vice-captain at a press conference in Florida on Tuesday, but the 14-time major champion is determined to combine that with being a player — something never seen in the modern era.
‘i don’t think that it would be impossible,’ said Furyk. ‘We spoke about it and decided to kind of let nature take its course.
‘i’d love to have him be part of the team but we’re in February and he’s completed one event. He looked pretty solid but let’s see how he does over the summer.’
Woods revealed before the start of the Genesis Open that he is targeting both roles.
While the 42-year-old is unlikely to get near making the team off the points list — only the top eight are automatic qualifiers — if he is showing some form and is still healthy by august, then he would be almost guaranteed a pick.
The american team will be packed with gifted twentysomethings and Furyk would love to supplement them with old hands Tiger and Phil mickelson.
mickelson boasts the astonishing record of never having needed a pick for any of his 11 ryder cup appearances to date and, the way the 47-year-old is going, he might qualify again on merit.
The lefty came to Los angeles on the back of two top-five finishes — the first time he has done that since he won The Open and the Scottish Open in 2013.
meanwhile, matthieu Pavon has claimed the halfway lead in the nBO Oman Open — just three weeks after disqualifying himself from the Dubai Desert classic.
Pavon notified the european Tour he had inadvertently signed for an incorrect score during the third round, a four being recorded on the tenth instead of a five.
But there were no such worries in muscat following a second round of 65 which gave the 25-year-old a two-shot lead over england’s matthew Southgate.
Pavon, who finished third at the same venue in a challenge Tour event in 2016, said: ‘i’ve got a lot of good memories of this course which helps.’
Southgate had to settle for a second-round 70 after finding the Gulf of Oman with his tee shot on the 18th to run up a double bogey.
But he refused to be too downbeat and insisted he is playing the best golf of his life.
‘i feel really in control of my game and emotionally i’ve been really good on the course,’ he said. ‘i just switched off a little bit on the 18th tee.
‘There are going to be hundreds of shots i hit that i’m not happy with and that was one of them.
‘But i think i’m playing the best golf of my life which is the goal because i always look to improve.’
Fellow englishmen chris Wood and Paul Waring are a shot behind Southgate, with Darren clarke three shots further back following a 67.
Stephen Gallacher, who also hit 67, is a further two shots behind the northern irishman alongside fellow Scots marc Warren and connor Syme on three under, with David Drysdale a stroke back.