Ryder Cup: ‘Tiger is a team player now’ insists Furyk
● US captain says Woods has already put big victory behind him to focus on Paris
Jim Furyk, the US captain, said Tiger Woods has already “flipped the page” from his weekend win in the Tour Championship and is ready to play a key role in trying to help the Americans pull off a first Ryder Cup victory on European soil since 1993 in France this weekend.
In the first of a series of press conferences in the build-up to the 42nd biennial contest, which takes place at Le Golf National outside Paris, Woods was the main focus of attention as Furyk shared the same stage with his European counterpart, Thomas Bjorn, in the wake of the 42-year-old capping an astonishing recovery from a career-threatening back injury to land his first victory since 2013.
Woods was languishing as low as 1,199th in the world rankings less than a year ago following spinal fusion surgery but is up to 13th after claiming his 80th PGA Tour title, handing himself a massive boost as he prepares to line up in his first Ryder Cup since 2012.
“I think you could see the emotion in him talking about fighting back tears. I think the arms in the air and the fist in the air, it was important for him to win,” said Furyk after arriving in the French capital after an overnight flight with his players and vice captains from Atlanta.
“When you look at now, maybe comparing past Ryder Cups to this one, I think what’s so special is Tiger has engrained himself in our team atmosphere and became such a big part of the team in 2016 as a vice captain, and then again in 2017 as an assistant captain at the Presidents Cup. I think it’s special for him now to kind of join these younger players as a team-mate.
“But you know, what’s important to him right now, what’s special for him is to be a part of that team, to be a part of that group, and I think he really enjoys that right now. You know, he won yesterday as an individual and I know how much that means to him and how important it was, but he’s flipped that page pretty quickly and is really excited to join his team-mates and move forward in that process.”
Bjornalsospokeofhisdelight at seeing Woods return to winning ways, saying: “I spent 25 years playing professional golf with Tiger on the scene, and any time he does anything great, that’s a story and that’s where we want to see him.
“Wewanttoseehimatthetop of the game. He does so much for the game of golf. Watching that last night, I thought it was brilliant to watch. It was great for the greater aspect of the game. The game of golf needs that boost of somebody like him that transcends the game to the masses.”
Bernard Gallacher believes Tiger Woods is ready at long last to show that he can be a “team player” in this week’s Ryder Cup in France.
Woods has a poor record in the event, having only been on the winning side once in seven previous Ryder Cups as a player. He was a vice captain when the United States won at Hazeltine two years ago but is back as a player at Le Golf National after earning one of Jim Furyk’s four picks.
“You’ve got to admire the way he’s come back from all his back surgeries,” said Gallacher, who played in the match eight times before captaining Europe on three occasions, including a 1995 win at Oak Hill. “It was a careerthreatening situation that he’s come through.
“We always expect a lot from Tiger, but he was the one who said that everyone needed to be patient with him and he’s certainly earned his place on this team. Who would not want to pick Tiger for your Ryder Cup team? I know his record in the past in foursomes and fourballs hasn’t been great.
“But the reason for that is that Tiger intimidates his partner as much as the opposition. He has a good record in singles. In fact, I think that Costantino Rocca in 1997 is the only player to have beaten him in singles and that was a pivotal match.
“I’m glad he’s in the team and he wants to be in the
team, which is important. In the past, he didn’t really seem bothered about the Ryder Cup. He wasn’t really a team player. But I think we are seeing a new Tiger Woods – someone who can be a team player now. He wants to be captain down the road.
“He was a vice captain at Hazeltine and was set to do the same role this time until he played his way on to the team. He’s showing a strong commitment to the Ryder Cup cause these days, which is great for the event.”
Bidding for a first win on European soil, the Americans head into the match as strong favourites due to the fact all 12 of their players are sitting inside the world’s top 25. “The Americans always go in favourites. Even when we were winning a lot, they still seemed to be favourites,” observed Lothians legend Gallacher. “As a captain and a player, it’s important that you don’t take account of what the bookmakers are saying.
“I’d say it is going to be tough for the Europeans but what will equalise things is a) we are playing at home and more importantly b) on a course that our players know very well.
“The French Open has been played on this course for many years and I’ve always felt that has been a big advantage for our players.
“If you look back to The K Club, where the European Open was played. If you look back to Valderrama, where we played the Volvo Masters. At Valderrama, the Americans couldn’t learn how to play it in two or three days as that is a tough course to get to grips with. It was the same at The Belfry and Celtic Manor and, of course, Gleneagles, where our players had played in the Johnnie Walker Championship for a number of years.
“These are all huge advantages. The players know the golf course. The captains know what players do well on that course. Fingers crossed that will even things up this time.”
As an ex-captain, Gallacher was invited to Le Golf National but has politely declined, preferring to stay at home in Ascot to watch the event on TV with his wife, Lesley.
“The funny thing is that I don’t want to be there now,” he said. “When I worked for Radio Five Live, I enjoyed it. But I decided to retire from radio after Gleneagles because it was getting too much walking around the course twice in the same day and also being up early then getting to bed late.
“I’m really looking forward to watching on TV. I was invited to go over to Paris but you end up watching it in a hospitality unit. We are going to stay at home, put our feet up and enjoy Ewen Murray’s commentary.”