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Tiger will have to earn his way onto Ryder Cup team says Captain Tom Watson


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No automatic pick for Tiger.

Do you think this is the right call?

What would you do in Watson's position?

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2014/05/even-a-healthy-tiger-will-have.html

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With the Ryder Cup slowly approaching, U.S. captain Tom Watson was recently asked how his preparations were going for the September matches. Perhaps inevitably, his response veered toward a certain sidelined American golfer and his prospects for playing at Gleneagles.

"The biggest surprise -- the most disheartening surprise -- is Tiger's injury," Watson said during a teleconference Thursday in which he was promoting the introduction of his new DVD instructional series.

Watson continued: "I want Tiger on the team. And I hope that he can recover from that injury and make it on the team and start playing well enough to get on the team."

Of course, Watson would prefer to have Tiger playing for him. The list of reasons why an injury-free Tiger is an asset for the American squad is long, starting with the fact he's still the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world.

At the risk of reading too far between the lines, however, Watson's wording hinted that even if Woods was healthy enough to compete, he wasn't a lock to play.

Read again: Watson hoped Tiger could "make it" on the team and perform well enough "to get on" the squad. Neither, of course, is necessary given that as captain Watson can simply pick Tiger for the lineup. Nevertheless, Watson said it in this fashion.

Truth be told, the need for Watson to see Tiger play his way onto the team is completely legitimate given the current situation and is actually a sign of being a smart captain. You're not always the same after an injury, particularly after the type of back surgery that Tiger underwent . And it can take time to find a swing that will work after being laid off for a while.

There's too much uncertainty right now for Watson to say definitively that Tiger will play if healthy. Luckily, the captain has got a few more months to figure that out.

Mike McLoughlin

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He's changed his story three times now. Maybe he should have just waited before saying the first two things. :P

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He's changed his story three times now. Maybe he should have just waited before saying the first two things. :P

For all I know, that is allowed. New info, new standings? Hopefully Tiger will be ready to play and make the team.

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Meh. Guess we'll just have to wait.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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All I can say is, I Hope Tiger makes it back, and is able to play good enough to make the team.

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Anyone who would say today, that Tiger's going to be an automatic pick for the team, is nuts.

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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Any player coming back from injury needs to be evaluated, including Tiger.

Scott

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Tiger can certainly "move the needle" for TV ratings but his Ryder Cup record isn't as outstanding as his PGA career record.  But I hope he recovers and is on the team.

Butch

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Tiger was selected for the Ryder Cup squad in 2010 despite being in a year-long slump. If he is fit to play, he is going to be on the team.

In my UnderArmour Links stand bag...

Driver: '07 Burner 9.5° (stiff graphite shaft)
Woods: SasQuatch 17° 4-Wood (stiff graphite shaft)
Hybrid: 4DX Ironwood 20° (stiff graphite shaft)Irons/Wedges: Apex Edge 3-PW, GW, SW (stiff shaft); Carnoustie 60° LWPutter: Rossa AGSI+ Corzina...

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Tiger was selected for the Ryder Cup squad in 2010 despite being in a year-long slump. If he is fit to play, he is going to be on the team.

Not according to the team captain ;-)

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
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Not according to the team captain ;-)

Didn't Pavin say some of the same stuff back in 2010 though? And/or Couples in 2011? Eh. I think if Tiger's healthy we'll see him on the team. :-)

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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I think it's the right call. It can take a while to come back from back surgery. If he starts playing well after he comes back, I have no doubt he will be picked. If he shows any sign of weakness, he'll be watching on TV.

- Shane

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If say it's 100% right call there's better players who deserve it this time round the now

I think I understood what you said... :-\

Tony  


:titleist:    |   :tmade:   |     :cleveland: 

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