KOHLER, Wis. — Corey Pavin yesterday remained non-committal about selecting Tiger Woods with one of his four captain’s picks, but it sure sounds like he wants to add the world’s No. 1 player to the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
“Obviously I’m considering him highly, no doubt about it,” Pavin said. “He’s playing better. I think we have all seen that and he wants to play, he wants to be a part of the team. But it’s going to be my judgment whether I pick him or not.”
Pavin made his comments during a press conference to acknowledge formally the eight players who automatically qualified for the American squad through a points system that ended Sunday with the 92nd PGA Championship won by Martin Kaymer of Germany.
The eight players to make the team were: Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar. Watson, Johnson, Overton and Kuchar will be Ryder Cup rookies. Pavin will announce his four picks on Sept. 7.
Though Pavin insists he hasn’t made any decisions, Woods appears to be a lock to make the squad. Though he has not won a tournament this year and at times has played some of the worst golf of his career, his stature in the sport and the economic impact his presence on the team can’t be ignored. He also has experience, having played in every Ryder Cup since 1997 except for 2008, when he didn’t compete because of a knee injury.
Though Woods’ Ryder Cup record is a meager 10-13-2, when compared to other players Pavin might select, Woods remains the more reliable choice. He finished tied for 28th at the PGA with rounds of 71-70-72-73, 2-under par. This followed a tie for 78th at the Bridgestone Invitational, where he finished second to last in the field.
“Obviously he played better last week,” Pavin said of Woods, who finished 12th in the Ryder Cup points standings. “He’s working on some things that seem to be improving his game.”
Meanwhile, Pavin praised Johnson for how he handled himself after being assessed a two-stroke penalty on the 72nd hole Sunday. Johnson was given the penalty for grounding his club in a bunker well off the right side of the 18th fairway. He was nursing a one-stroke lead at the time and after missing a par putt to win thought he would be part of three-man playoff. Instead he finished tied for fifth.
“I think it was the proper ruling,” Pavin said. “It was an unfortunate situation. But Dustin said his main goal was to make the Ryder Cup team and that’s what he did.”
