Who would have thought it would come to this? Members of the European Ryder Cup team rooting for Tiger Woods to make the U.S. squad? Unpossible. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, for one, is doing a little trash talking. Putting aside the fact that trash talking in golf is absurd, doing so in Woods’ direction is just a no-win situation. Why wake the sleeping Tiger? Anyway, here’s what McIlroy said to AFP News:
“I would love to face [Woods]. Unless his game rapidly improves… I think anyone in the European team would fancy their chances against him.”
McIlroy, who has risen to seventh in the world rankings, doesn’t think that 14-time major winner Woods merits a place in the Ryder Cup team — for whom he has rarely replicated his dominant tournament form — but believes he will be there.
“There are a lot of American players playing better than him at the minute but it’s always an advantage to have Tiger Woods in your team,” said McIlroy.
“I think he’ll (Pavin) pick him. I don’t think it would go down too well in the States if he wasn’t picked.”
Corey Pavin will announce his four captain’s picks on Sept 7. Here’s ESPN’s breakdown of the candidates (they think Woods is a shoe-in).
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Tiger easy meat for Ryder Cup team: McIlroy [Yahoo News]
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- Swanson - Aug 18, 2010 at 7:26 PM
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Just another in a long list of 1 hit wonders. It’s a wonder anyone even cares what this kid says. He got a gift for life and now he’s got authority on Golf.
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- Oliver R. Baker - Aug 18, 2010 at 7:47 PM
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Couldn’t have said it better myself. Eldrick shank-the-skank Woods is not playing the way one might expect from a twelfth ranked US professional. Pavin has until early September to see something different, otherwise it will be another cut that Eldrick doesn’t make. He and his more rabid fans should get used to it.
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- StakeX - Aug 18, 2010 at 8:56 PM
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Thats not trash talking at all… thats just cold hard facts.
Woods is playing terrible, and is not going to improve much sitting on his coutch before the Ryder Cup, unless he somehow hangs around in the playoffs for more then one event. Thus I’m sure no one is worried about playing him on the Euro team, and would worry more about playing some of the other US players that are plaing well.
And hes right, Woods does not deserve a spot. Sure, hes number one in the world right now but thats only because the WGR’s don’t properly reflect how well a player is playing. Woods has played horrible all year and if he was any other golfer on the planet people would laugh if they heard talk he should be on the team. As such, there should be no special treatment for Woods, because giving him a spot would take away from some other American player whos played well over the last year.
Of course, Woods will be on the team. Not because Pavin thinks he should be, but because theres no way in hell the tour and TV networks would allow Pavin to not pick him. Sure, on the surface it seems as the only one with say is Pavin, but behind the scenes the TV networks and sponsors have a lot of pull… and they simply will not accept Woods not being on the team.
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- bob g - Aug 18, 2010 at 11:53 PM
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I’ll watch Tiger take this kid apart, now you gotta pick him just for this comment and to play against this young man. Tiger Woods is still the best golfer in the world and I for one would not envy McElroy playing him after this comment. Maybe Tiger will tell him so at the end of their match-this was uncalled for.
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- Steve - Aug 19, 2010 at 1:24 AM
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Corey Pavin MUST pick whomever is the best. Tiger is far from it. All we hear is an ongoing bag of excuses the past several tournaments, from his golf clubs to his saying he’s getting better. Maybe, but not right now. He’s basically suffering the mental aspect that I have stated several months ago…Tiger is done, kaput, finished…for now.
Until this man gets his life in order, no way can he concentrate on his game properly. No way can the mental blocks he has make his entire mechanics of the game of golf improve to where it was.
He simply got himself into this mess. Lost his wife and lots of money. Cannot see his kids in a normal way that dads are supposed to do. So folks, I believe Corey will do what he has to do. Maybe leaving Tiger home for this tournament will be the best for him and all of his fans that think he’s coming around….
…He simply isn’t. If he is, prove it.
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- Steve - Aug 19, 2010 at 4:26 AM
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People are saying tiger’s not playing well but let’s remember he’s still ranked #1 in the WORLD and ranked #12 as far as this team is concerned, even though he seems to be playing bad he’s still playing alot better than lot of guy’s on the tour.
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- Johnny at Work - Aug 19, 2010 at 6:07 AM
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Pavin will pick Woods, Woods will play worse than he ever has in the Ryder, and as a result this will not be a story in future years.
Tiger is an ordinary golfer without HGH and Canadian Juice. The one part of his game that made him runaway with tournaments was his long drives. “Tiger Proofing” courses meant making them longer.
Now everyone is longer and more accurate than Tiger. Without the Juice, he lost his advantage. Add the fact that Tiger can’t putt, and Tiger has a future spot on Fox’s “Where Are They Now” wall.
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- Arcadian - Aug 19, 2010 at 8:32 AM
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Yeah he has the experiences 14 woman in two year way more than Rory thats for sure.
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- T - Aug 19, 2010 at 8:42 AM
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Well, Tiger’s record in Ryder Cup matches is average, overall, but his singles record is 3-1-1. His President’s Cup singles record is 3-2-0.
Every time a player has trashed talked him, they end up taking a beating from him the very next time they tee it up. Remember Steven Aimes. He took a humilating 9 and 8 trouncing at the Matchplay Championship after saying Tiger was “beatable”. You can bet that Pavin will pick him and pair him against McIlroy in singles. That’ll be fun to watch.
And hey, “Johnny at Work” go back to work because you shouldn’t be “riding the clock” on your employers dime taking about things you obviously know nothing about, LOL!
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- Buzzsaw - Aug 19, 2010 at 8:57 AM
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Pavin does not have the “stones” to leave Woods at home. A stronger personality would have no problem leaving Tiger at home to get his act together for the future. The rankings are trash anyway, especially the Ryder cup points. They have for years placed to much emphasis on the prior year rather than the current year peformance and the teams have suffered dearly for that error. This event calls for team players and competitors, not egocentric persons with no national pride. Put the hottest players in the game on the team based on the past 6-8 months performance and see how that works out! We all know golf is a game of streaks and players get on good and bad rolls which is why even the greats drop out of site for a period. The great ones just have shorter off periods and longer winning streaks.
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- Bob L - Aug 19, 2010 at 12:00 PM
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Given the current state of Tiger’s game, it would be appropriate and show respect for the game and the other potential competitors if he were to excuse himself from consideration. Having said that however, it would rob the media of an opportunity to continue the Tiger bashing and undoubtedly lower overall viewer participation – after all it’s all about ratings right?!
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- Allen - Aug 19, 2010 at 12:12 PM
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what a goofy comment …he MUST pick whoever is playing the best…
if that is the case, what exactly is a Captain’s pick…you would just pick the next couple of guys on the point scale. Get some sense people
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- Here Kitty! - Aug 19, 2010 at 1:40 PM
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Tiger has become a pussycat!
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- Here Kitty! - Aug 19, 2010 at 1:42 PM
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Tiger has become a pussycat!
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- Lisa - Aug 19, 2010 at 2:02 PM
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I have never read so much crap. Tiger is still the number one player in the world. That says a hell of a lot considering he is not playing very well and no one can dethrone him. Some of you keep writing that he is playing terrible. By all accounts he has only had one terrible tournament in which he came in next to last of the top what 80 best players? Considering what he is enduring I think he is playing very well, but not up to his usual standards. I don’t care how bad he is playing right now he still deserves to be asked to be on the team considering that he is still the number one player. Tiger has played half or less tournaments than everyone else and is still up there in points. Hate him or not he deserves respect for his game.
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- dj4 - Aug 19, 2010 at 2:03 PM
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Whogive a rats? He just needs a little more Rachel Uchitel and he will be fine.
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- Daniel - Aug 19, 2010 at 5:12 PM
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People who do not follow the sport very close don’t remember the last
Ryder Cup Team when the young players talked about Tiger giving them pointers on the putting green and how it helped in their matches. Most of these post are people just kicking a man when he’s off his game. This is Golf not his personal life. Pick him Captain Pavin and go USA.
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- tom - Aug 19, 2010 at 5:54 PM
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Rory is a little Irish punk who has done nothing. By Rory’s age Tiger had won a major on his way to 14. Just shows the icredible lack of class that Rory has.
Tiger has screwed up but he is one of us and not that little punk azz irish creep with the weird hair.
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- golfergirl - Aug 19, 2010 at 6:16 PM
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O.K everybody listen up. For the Tiger naysayers, I am not condoning what he did to his wife by any means,I’ve had it done to me and I had the money so I know from where Tiger comes from in this situation. He is in a middle of a multi-million dollar divorce. Does anyone actually thinks he wants to win A major to give his wife more fuel for the fire. He’s playing, he’s getting his groove back and once his divorce is final he will come back with everything he’s got. My advice to him and my soon-to be ex gigalo husband don’t ever get married again.
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- hjhsi - Aug 20, 2010 at 1:40 PM
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2010 Masters – Tied 4th
2010 US Open – Tied 4th
2010 British and PGA – top 30
Those are career years for 99% of the tour. Tiger woods game has never been about driving, he was never the most accurate or longest driver even in his best years. His best club has always been his putter. He’s won MAJORS in the past using Driver only 2 or 3 times a whole tournament.
His long iron and 3/5 wood play is still good. It his wedge play and putter that has kept him from winning two majors this year that were there for the taking (MAsters and US Open). All of this in his worst year.
