Tiger Woods - Vice Captain?

[Stuartmacgregor]

As a proud Scot, and a European supporter, but a golf fan working at the Ryder Cup, I want to see the best and a great competition, with Tiger's injury making it unlikely that he will get a pick, should he be invited as a vice captain, to give experience in the team room??

[boogielicious]

As a proud Scot, and a European supporter, but a golf fan working at the Ryder Cup, I want to see the best and a great competition, with Tiger's injury making it unlikely that he will get a pick, should he be invited as a vice captain, to give experience in the team room??

Excellent question.  I would say yes.

[David in FL]

As a proud Scot, and a European supporter, but a golf fan working at the Ryder Cup, I want to see the best and a great competition, with Tiger's injury making it unlikely that he will get a pick, should he be invited as a vice captain, to give experience in the team room??

I don't think so.  Steve Stricker has already been chosen specifically to fill that role.  Adding Tiger would really feel like Watson was just throwing him a bone.

[zipazoid]

As a proud Scot, and a European supporter, but a golf fan working at the Ryder Cup, I want to see the best and a great competition, with Tiger's injury making it unlikely that he will get a pick, should he be invited as a vice captain, to give experience in the team room??

Great question, but I think he's going to be a Captain's pick for the team. If for no other reason than who he is. The US team is very thin this year & they are likely going to lose irrespective of how makes the team & who is picked, so they might as well have the guy who could possibly summon some old magic, ala Seve.

[David in FL]

Great question, but I think he's going to be a Captain's pick for the team. If for no other reason than who he is. The US team is very thin this year & they are likely going to lose irrespective of how makes the team & who is picked, so they might as well have the guy who could possibly summon some old magic, ala Seve.

Never happen.  I'll bet the bank on it......and for much the same reason as you think he'll be picked.

The U.S. team is weak this year and almost certain to lose.  The last thing Watson wants is, having lost, people remembering his captaincy for having picked a guy who's played like crap all year, whether healthy or not, just because he's Tiger Woods, when there are dozens of guys playing a LOT better than him who ultimately would have contributed more.

The only way that scenario doesn't play out, is if Tiger is chosen and actually has a very good Ryder Cup.  Given his play of late, does anyone honestly see that happening?

As for summoning some old magic, there's a saying.....  "The race isn't always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet!"

[zipazoid]

Fair enough, but keep in mind he wouldn't have to play him five times. Every RC there's a couple of players who play like twice, or maybe even just once...Sunday singles.

But I think Tiger in best-ball wouldn't be a horrible call. As well, there's still a little time for him to get his game together - he posted a couple rounds in the 60s before the back gave him fits.

I think, honestly, if he is truly healthy by the time the RC comes around, he'll be picked.

[MEfree]

The Ryder Cup is almost 6 weeks away and it is 3 weeks before Watson announces his selections.

Just 2 weeks ago, Phil was looking pretty ordinary with no Top 10s for the year with people questioning whether he should be on the team. Now, everyone seems happy he made it on points and are expecting good things from him.

A month ago, Rory had no PGA Tour wins and didn't seem to be much of a candidate for POY- now he seems to have a lock on it.

Just over 6 weeks ago, Kaymer looked like the player to beat with a dominating US Open backing up his Player's win.  Now he has finished worse than 55th in 4 of his last 5 events, including 2 missed cuts.

My point is that a lot can change with a players game in a short period of time.  Given the greatness Tiger has shown for so long (including POY last year with 5 wins), I think Watson will take as much time as possible to assess where Tiger is at before making a decision.  True, this will be harder to objectively evaluate unless Tiger tees it up in the Hotel Fitness Championship or the Italian Open, but I still think Watson will try to determine if his game is coming around.

[dsc123]

I think its a terrific idea.  I would almost always use a captain's pick on Tiger, the lone exception being when he isn't healthy.  So I think bringing him on as a coach is a great idea.  Unless the other players really don't like him.

[David in FL]

Fair enough, but keep in mind he wouldn't have to play him five times. Every RC there's a couple of players who play like twice, or maybe even just once...Sunday singles.

But I think Tiger in best-ball wouldn't be a horrible call. As well, there's still a little time for him to get his game together - he posted a couple rounds in the 60s before the back gave him fits.

I think, honestly, if he is truly healthy by the time the RC comes around, he'll be picked.

How are you going to define "truly healthy"?  Especially given that he's said that he was "truly healthy" each of his last 2 starts.......  He either wasn't healthy wasn't honest in evaluating his own health, or he was, and played like crap anyway.

Either way, I just don't think Watson is going to pick a current under-performer (to be generous) just because of his name......and I'm not sure "not a horrible call" is the standard by which Watson wants to be remembered.

I think its a terrific idea.  I would almost always use a captain's pick on Tiger, the lone exception being when he isn't healthy.  So I think bringing him on as a coach is a great idea.  Unless the other players really don't like him.

But again, Steve Stricker has already been tapped to fill that exact role......an active player to bridge the gap between the players and the rest of the team leadership.

[jamo]

Vice captain would be fine, but at this point - for Tiger's own continued good health - I hope he's not picked to play.

[dsc123]

But again, Steve Stricker has already been tapped to fill that exact role......an active player to bridge the gap between the players and the rest of the team leadership.

Sorry, I wasn't aware it was limited to 1.

[Patch]

I am pretty sure he is going to be on the team in some form or fashion. Sponsors, and TV ratings rule these types of things.  Tommy Watson may not have much of a choice.

I also think Watson would have a better than even chance to  beat Woods in match play right now, which to me says a lot against Woods being on the team.

A vice captain pick would be work well, if it's possible. I don't know how many vice captains they are allowed to have on a team. I don't think he would be a very good swing coach to any of the other players, but some personal support in other areas would go a long ways.

I think if Woods is picked for the team, and he loses his first round match, Watson will most likely limit the rest the of his play to a very bare minimum.

[Gunther]

Tiger will be in FL come Ryder Cup week. 1st, he will not be golf-healthy, even though he may feel ok. 2nd, David is correct - Watson's not picking him for the reasons cited. 3rd, Watson won't ask him to be an asst captain. He was asked this yesterday and was flummoxed at the question, finally responding with a meek "I don't know." Not something Watson had even considered up til the question was asked. 4th, don't believe Tiger would accept.

[MEfree]

But again, Steve Stricker has already been tapped to fill that exact role......an active player to bridge the gap between the players and the rest of the team leadership.

I think you are correct about this.  When I heard that Stricker was picked for this, I was wondering if Watson was picking him to be a potential fill in as a player if someone like Dufner or Kuchar got to Scotland and woke up one morning with injury issues.

I feel that Stricker will get slotted to play if he performs well during the next 3 weeks- 3 of the 4 Americans who finished better than Stricker at the PGA are on the team and it looks like all the Americans (except DJ and likely Tiger possibly or ZJ) who are ranked ahead of him on the OWGR will be on the team.

I agree that Tiger won't get asked to be a non-playing Vice Captain if Stricker is not picked at a player, but there might be small chance he would be invited in such a role if Stricker is named to the 12 man team with the thinking that Tiger could step in last minute in case of injury.  Overall, there is a good chance Tiger will be in FL for the reasons Gunther cited.

[zipazoid]

One thing to consider -

If Tiger was offered a vice captain, non-playing role...would he accept?

[David in FL]

One thing to consider -

If Tiger was offered a vice captain, non-playing role...would he accept?

I don't think so.

If Stricker remains as an assistant, then he'd know that he was just being thrown a bone, because honestly, he doesn't bring anything more than Stricker to the table in that role.  Slightly better chance if Stricker is elevated to playing status as @MEfree even then, he knows that he was the second choice and I don't think that's going to sit well and he likely declines, citing the need to "get healthy".

[zipazoid]

I don't think so.

If Stricker remains as an assistant, then he'd know that he was just being thrown a bone, because honestly, he doesn't bring anything more than Stricker to the table in that role.  Slightly better chance if Stricker is elevated to playing status as @MEfree mentioned, but even then, he knows that he was the second choice and I don't think that's going to sit well and he likely declines, citing the need to "get healthy".

And let's be honest. It's Tiger. Not the most endearing guy to other pros. How effective could he be in a Co-Captain role?

[David in FL]

And let's be honest. It's Tiger. Not the most endearing guy to other pros. How effective could he be in a Co-Captain role?

True dat...