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AKRON, Ohio – A clear goal and declared this year for Tiger Woods was to go to the Firestone Country Club. He became especially eager to do so when the word hinted that the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was coming here for the last time this week
Woods won at Firestone eight times, and that's the site of his most recent victory over the PGA. in 2013. The Bridgestone arrived only when Woods finished sixth at the Open two weeks ago and as the slimmest margins slipped into the world's top 50, one of the qualifying criteria for the tournament.
656th in the world in January at 50th and 12 tournaments later is an impressive achievement for Woods.
All this leads to another question: Is it enough to be part of the US Ryder Cup team at the end of September? 19659002] Woods, who is 20 years old in the standings, still has a chance to win one of the team's eight automatic positions, even though he's very lucky to do so with just two tournaments which end after next week. PGA Championship.
But he is undou a serious candidate for one of Captain Jim Furyk's most popular picks – and that's perhaps already done. Furyk, of course, will not say as much, but there has been speculation for weeks that Woods will have a choice – and that was before his showing at the Open.
Furyk wins little by saying something definitive now, so probably play in the next few weeks. After the last two qualifying tournaments, there are still four weeks of tournaments to play before the four selections are made, three of them will follow the Dell Technologies Championship – the second FedEx Cup playoff event – and the final pick coming after the BMW championship.
Will Woods choose Furyk? Does he deserve one? Here are a few things to consider:
Achieving 20th place in points is an impressive achievement
Woods did this in 12 events, having missed two cups without winning and having had the opportunity to play in one of eight events in 2017 in which he could have earned points. If you were there alone in 2018, for example, Jordan Spieth would not be among the top 12. He would be 13th – just two three points ahead of Woods. Three of the biggest players – Matt Kuchar, Brian Harman and Zach Johnson – earned fewer points than Woods in 2018.
Rankings are not the only factor in the pre-season
selections the top eight players are determined, Furyk is free to choose who he wants, regardless of the ranking. It is the idea to give the captain four choices together. This gives him some flexibility. he can go with a hot player or veterans on recruits or someone he believes will make a better partner. For Woods, you can make compelling arguments for or against his inclusion on the basis of all of these factors.
Woods Ryder Cup record is disappointing
It may be more important today, but Tiger has a losing record in the Ryder Cup: 13- 17-3. You can dissect that in many ways. Sometimes, as in 2012, Woods did not play well; on other occasions, as in 2004 and 2006, he was part of historically bad American teams. But since his inaugural Ryder Cup in 1997, Woods has not lost in singles. In 2010, when he was the captain's last choice, he went 3-1 with a singles victory in the 14½ to 13½ loss to Europe. He had lost 3-2 in Ireland in 2006. He is still an intense competitor, and keeping him by his side on the last day probably means more than having a newcomer. It is also easier to associate today because of his more relaxed behavior.
The Team Constitution Facilitates the Choice
Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson and Spieth hold in the top six places – with Koepka, Johnson and Reed assured of the to do and the others near the locks. Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson are in the last two positions, but Fowler is certain to make a choice if he falls among the top eight.
Spieth and Reed were a solid combination for the United States at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Fowler formed a good team at the Presidents Cup with Thomas, who won 3½ out of 4 points. Johnson played with Koepka and Kuchar in the 2016 USA victory at Hazeltine. Phil Mickelson, who also figures to get a pick he does not make the team (he is 10th), in partnership with Fowler and Kuchar.
The point is this: the United States has three, and potentially four, strong teams for the first two days of foursomes and four-ball without Woods. Unlike previous years, Woods should not play all five games. in fact, he could play only once a day if he is chosen. You could easily see him paired with someone like the neighborhood boyfriend Thomas in four balls, or even Reed's it's decided to give him a break from Spieth. DeChambeau has been a regular partner this year and would make an interesting team.
His Role in the American Ryder Cup / Presidents Cup
Woods has been a major factor behind the scenes since the US revised Formula Ryder Cup following its 2014 loss to Gleneagles. First as part of the Ryder Cup Working Group and now as part of the Ryder Cup Committee, which consists of him and Mickelson with the current captain. Woods is also vice-captain, so he will be in France anyway. He was an assistant in Hazeltine two years ago. He was an assistant to Steve Stricker at the Presidents Cup last year. He will be the captain of the United States Presidents Cup next year. If he wants to play, and he's doing well through the playoffs, it's hard to imagine that he's gone.
For fear of forgetting the commercial aspects of the Ryder Cup
No one will ever admit it, but you can bet that behind the scenes, the various actors of the PGA of America, of the European Tour and broadcast networks around the world want Woods to play the Ryder Cup. It's an exhibition, after all, without money changing hands. Think of it as a sponsor exemption at any other tournament. Who would not choose Woods?
Who do you take instead of Tiger?
If the top eight – Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Reed, Thomas, Watson, Spieth, Fowler and Simpson – remain intact, who are the four choices? Mickelson, for the reasons outlined above about Woods, would seem to be a lock in 10th place. That leaves three players among Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Kuchar, Tony Finau, Harman, Kevin Kisner, Kevin Na, Aaron Wise, Zach Johnson, Kyle Stanley and Woods. All have qualities that give them a chance: the toughness of Harman, for example; The recent form of Kisner and his game at last year 's Presidents' Cup; The solid game of Schauffele as bright, and so for DeChambeau; The length of Finau and his raw talent; The experience of Zach Johnson. But do three of them get the nod over Woods? Unlikely.
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