Ryder Cup is a hot topic

ST. LOUIS » Jim Furyk will have to decide whether Tiger Woods is worthy of making his Ryder Cup team.

One of his vice captains sure thinks so.

After making a Sunday charge at the PGA Championship that came up just short of a victory — one that would have locked up his spot — Woods said he wants to do much more than help Furyk call the shots as an assistant when the Americans head to France to defend the cup.

Woods wants to be hitting some shots, too.

“I do want to be on the team as a player. I’m going to be there either way,” said Woods, whose final-round 64 on Sunday left him two shots back of Brooks Koepka at raucous Bellerive Country Club.

“Our captain has some decisions to make after the first (FedEx Cup) playoff events, and we’ll sit down and give him our input and what we think and who should be on the team, and who can contribute to the team,” Woods said, “and hopefully my name will be part of that process.” It’s a pretty safe bet. The PGA was the last event to secure one of the top eight spots in the Ryder Cup standings and an automatic berth to the team. And for all the craziness that went down at Bellerive, there was no real movement among the eight players who secured their spots.

Koepka merely put an exclamation mark on his, while Justin Thomas showed he’s in fine form with a final-round 68 and top-10 finish.