Dubai: The decision by the US’ Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III to appoint Tiger Woods as his vice-captain ahead of next year’s Ryder Cup at Hazeltine has been branded a “smart move” by European teammates Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter. Woods, 39, will assume the non-playing role, while he recovers from a reoccurring back injury.
The winner of 14 majors has played in seven Ryder Cups between 1997 and 2012, but has only featured on the winning team once in 1999.
In the last 10 editions of the biennial team competition the US have suffered eight defeats, but McIlroy and Poulter believe having Woods in tow from September 30 to October 2 next autumn, may stand the US in good stead.
Their only reservation was that in declaring himself an injury doubt a year in advance of the tournament, Woods’ may have effectively just drawn an end to his career.
“It’s great that he wants to help the US team in any way that he can,” said McIlroy. “But it just makes me think what his health is like and how he feels, and whether he’s going to come back from that?
“I’d rather see him on the course at Hazeltine but if not, at least he’ll be there and it will be a good addition for them.
“If you look at the guys who are going to be on that team, like Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Jordan Spieth, those younger guys grew up idolising Tiger, so to have someone like him as part of the team; that will be great for them, so it’s definitely one of the smarter moves.”
Poulter agreed: “Why wouldn’t he want to be part of that team, whether it be playing or even vice-captain? He’s been part of that team for so many years. Tiger’s Tiger. He creates a buzz whether he’s playing or not playing. Just his presence there would be a good thing for the team, so it’s a smart move.
“I think his body has taken an awful lot of punishment over the last few years. He went back in for another back surgery and that’s obviously difficult. It’s going to be difficult for him to come back from that. It’s an early announcement but it’s not a bad announcement.”
