FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2019, file photo, Tiger Woods smiles during the winner's ceremony after winning the Zozo Championship PGA Tour at the Accordia Golf Narashino country club in Inzai, east of Tokyo, Japan. A man who found Woods unconscious in a mangled SUV last week after the golf star who later told sheriff's deputies he did not know how the collision occurred and didn't even remember driving, crashed the vehicle in Southern California, authorities said in court documents. Law enforcement has not previously disclosed that Woods had been unconscious following the collision. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File

Tiger Woods Sent USA Ryder Cup Team Inspirational Text Before Friday's Opening Round

Scott PolacekSep 24, 2021

Something Tiger Woods said must have clicked.

Team USA jumped out to a 6-2 lead on the first day of competition in front of the home fans at the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin, and multiple players acknowledged the 15-time major champion sent them a message of encouragement going into the competition.

"We knew he was fist-pumping from the couch,'' Xander Schauffele said, per Bob Harig of ESPN. "Whether he was on crutches or not, he's as fired up as any back at home so it's nice to have his support.''

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Schauffele won both his matches Friday and was an integral part of the quick start.

Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau and Harris English also mentioned Woods said something, although they did not reveal what exactly was said.

Harig noted Team USA captain Steve Stricker has consulted with Woods, which makes sense considering the all-time great was captain of the winning U.S. Presidents Cup team in 2019 and helped Stricker's 2017 Presidents Cup team.

Woods is recovering from a serious car accident that happened in February.