Ryder Cup: Is It About Tiger Woods Or About Ryder Cup?

And so it happened. Big news about Ryder Cup after the first interviews in Wales, is what Rory McIlroy said about Tiger Woods more than a month ago, just after Woods finished second from last in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, closing with a 77 for an 18-over aggregate of 298.

The statement? It was: “I would love to face [Tiger],” said McIlroy last month, about his chances for meeting Woods in the Ryder Cup singles. “Unless his game rapidly improves I think anyone in the European team would fancy their chances against him.”

It was said, as an observation. And a correct one. Woods has not won this season, he missed out on the TOUR Championship and he is number 63 on the PGA Tour money list (#42 on the FedExCup Playoffs list). Which player in his right mind would not want to meet Tiger Woods in the singles at Ryder Cup right now? And especially in a match where his stats have been so bad even when he was at his best?

Will someone tell what’s so wrong about what Rory said? If it had been said about any other player in the US team, the remark would have been forgotten by now for sure. However, the fact is that Tiger is in Wales, for reasons, that has nothing to do with golf, because no one is more out of place on Celtic Manor than the player who still holds the number one spot in a sport he has not been close to dominate in more than a year. Tiger is in Wales because the golf industry and the press think he needs to be there. So they can elaborate on old episodes that has nothing to do with the task at hand.

And why is Tiger in Wales? Because he needs to. Not because he wants to. Ironically, Woods has never thought the Ryder Cup could do anything good for his career. Do you remember his stupid remark about how no one remembers Jack Nicklaus’ stats in Ryder Cup? Well, first of all, we remember your stats in Ryder Cup, Tiger. And secondly, the only reason you are on the team this week, is because you need to make the impression to the world that you really are a nice guy that can play along. The only problem is that it’s fake.

Anthony Kim who was a sure thing on the US team before he decided to fix his thumb, ended on spot ahead of Tiger in the FedExCup Playoffs despite missing the cut in the two first playoff tournaments, but not for one second would the press ever had recommended Kim for the US team.

However, before the Playoffs started, Tiger was a given in Ryder Cup, in spite of a T78 in WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone. And let’s not forget the T23 spot in The Open on St. Andrews where the American press was sure Tiger would return to greatness just like they were sure he would prevail at Augusta National, TPC Sawgrass, Muirfield, Pebble Beach, Firestone, Whistling Straits.

On Twitter ESPEN’s Jason Sobel wrote to me on August 28th: “[Tiger] is a lock. Hasn't lost singles match since '97.” When I asked if he was serious about having Tiger on the team, Sobel answered: “Did you watch Presidents Cup last year? Undefeated.”

Well, President’s Cup is not Ryder Cup and Tiger has produced 11 points in 25 Ryder Cup matches. He has been on a losing US team four out of five times. When the US won in 1999 at Brookline, Woods won his single against rookie and wild card Andrews Coltart who had not been playing at all the first two days. Before that Woods had lost three of the four matches he had played the two previous days. Woods has 3½ point out of 5 in singles. Tiger Woods has never been an asset to the US Ryder Cup team. But he has been a lock, only in the sense that he has qualified for the team. Saying he is a lock this year, is living in denial. The same denial the press has been living in all year.

Now Tiger is in Wales, and the same old song is playing again: This time its Tigers week! However, the only place it will be Tigers week, is in the press. And that’s why he is here. To give the press something to write about. Never mind it’s redundant, irrelevant and boring to read about what Tiger does, does not, think. That is what the press wants to feed you. Less work and more attention. Never mind the rest of the team. Who cares about a red hot Jim Furyk who won the FedExCup Playoffs in spite of being DQ’ed in the first of the four tournaments? Who cares about a Jeff Overton who just might go and be one of the best US players this week? Nah, only one predictnt: Tiger will come through this week!

And if he don’t? Well, then it’s the biggest story anyway. No matter what, the articles are already written, and they have been used all season.