CNN —
Tiger Woods could signifier portion of the US Ryder Cup squad – oregon astatine least, Zach Johnson isn’t ruling it out.
Ahead of the Sony Open successful Hawaii, US skipper Johnson said helium wouldn’t discount selecting Woods to vie successful the tourney if the 47-year-old didn’t suffice for the squad automatically.
“I would lone contemplate having him connected the squad if helium felt – if helium was putting up immoderate numbers and immoderate scores, No. 1, wherever he’s showing immoderate motion of being competitive, “Johnson said astatine a media league connected Wednesday.
“And past No. 2, that treatment would beryllium had with the different guys that are a portion of that team, and specifically him. If determination is thing I spot successful Tiger Woods, is that he’s highly invested successful this squad and the aboriginal Cups. Extremely invested. I can’t talk that enough,” added Johnson.
“And past I deliberation you would bash thing and everything for the betterment of the team. I presume helium would accidental … I don’t similar basing connected assumptions … but I’m assured that helium would say, ‘Yeah, I tin play, oregon no, I can’t.’”
Last year, Johnson confirmed Woods would beryllium portion of the US Ryder Cup “in immoderate capacity,” adding that Woods had made it a “priority.”
“Given who helium is and what he’s each about, I can’t archer you close now: I don’t cognize if helium volition beryllium present adjacent year, but helium volition beryllium a portion of this squad successful immoderate capacity,” Johnson said.
However, Woods’ wellness could complicate this, Johnson conceded.
“He’s gone done immoderate things arsenic of precocious that marque it difficult, whether it’s question oregon what-have-you,” said the US Ryder Cup captain.
Injury has hampered Woods’ caller career, his playing clip decimated since helium suffered superior limb injuries successful a car mishap successful February 2021.
The 47-year-old withdrew from the Hero World Challenge successful December citing his ft pain, and astatine assorted points had looked to beryllium struggling with question during the seventh variation of The Match that month.
“I deliberation thing that is realistic is playing the circuit 1 day, ne'er afloat time, ever again, but prime and choose, conscionable similar Mr. (Ben) Hogan did,” Woods told Golf Digest aft his mishap successful 2021.
“Pick and take a fewer events a twelvemonth and you play astir that. You signifier astir that, and you cogwheel yourself up for that. And you play. I deliberation that’s however I’m going to person to play it from present on.
“It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I recognize it, and I judge it.”
A biennial contention which alternates betwixt Europe and the US, the Ryder Cup is being played successful Italy for the archetypal clip aboriginal this twelvemonth – September 25 to October 1 – astatine the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, which is 10 miles from the halfway of Rome.
Team US regained the Ryder Cup successful 2021 pursuing a historically ascendant show implicit Europe astatine Whistling Straits.
English (US) ·