Tom Watson said he still is considering making Tiger Woods a Captain’s Pick for the United States Ryder Cup team for the matches next month at Gleneagles Resort in Scotland.
Woods, who underwent back surgery on March 31 but sustained a new back injury and withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before missing the cut in the PGA Championship, told Watson he wants to be on the team.
“He is Tiger Woods; he brings something to the team in a big way,” Watson said Monday, one day after the PGA at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. “He’s been really good in the team room of recent, and he’s a factor with the players. I know that for a fact.
“But the most important thing is, can he play? Can he physically play, and is he playing well?”
Woods did not qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs and will not play competitively before Watson makes his three Captain’s Picks on Sept. 2.
However, Watson said he will remain in contact with Woods and expects to get an honest assessment from him.
“The most important thing is his health,” Watson said. “I’ve said it consistently all the way through the issue with Tiger after his injury: if he’s healthy and is playing well, I’ll pick him.
“Right now, his health is not good. Whether that can change in the next three weeks, as I said, I’ll monitor the situation. I’ll be talking with him, and as far as his playing ability is concerned, I’ll monitor that as well.
“ … Actually Tiger said to me in our conversation, ‘I want you to pick me.’ … I would be a fool not to consider him.”
