Corey Pavin, captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, said today that Tiger Woods ranks “high” on his list of potential at-large additions to the U.S. team that will compete Oct. 1-3 in Wales against Europe.
But he stopped short of saying the world’s top-ranked golfer will be a slam-dunk addition to the 12-member squad as one of four captain’s choice selections that will be announced Sept. 7.
“He’s certainly a big consideration. He’s high on my list,” Pavin said of Woods during today's news conference at Whistling Straits, site of Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship. “He wants to play. He’s working on some things that seem to be improving his game.”
Woods, who tied for 28th at the PGA, finished 12th in the final U.S. Ryder Cup standings and failed to earn an automatic berth on the team. The top eight golfers on the points list, headed by Phil Mickelson (6,095.06 points), qualified for the U.S. squad.
Pavin has four at-large picks to use on golfers to complete a team that already includes Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar. Mahan, a Colleyville resident, finished second on the points list to Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world rankings.
Pavin said Woods’ losing record in 25 career matches at the Ryder Cup (10-13-2) is “not a concern at all” because most of those losses came in matches involving two-man teams.
_ Jimmy Burch
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