Woods, Johnson, Cink and Fowler in US Ryder Cup team
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American Captain Corey Pavin has named Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler as his four wildcard picks for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor on October 1-3.
World number one Woods had been widely expected to make the team despite his personal problems off the course this year. Woods is on the verge of suffering his first winless season since turning pro but he has recently joined forces with top coach Sean Foley and has shown signs of returning to his dominant best in recent weeks.
“I asked him last night if he wanted to be part of the team and he said ‘absolutely’,” Pavin said. “I am happy that he is very excited about playing and he wants to be on a winning team.”
Woods said: “I always love playing in Ryder Cup, being part of the team. It is an experience you will never forget.
“It is one of those things I have been looking forward to. It is nice my game is coming around. I feel my game is not very far away. It makes it a lot easier going into a pressure-packed environment.”
Woods is joined by world number 17 Zach Johnson finished 11th in the US points list and 2009 Open champion Cink is carrying some solid form with top 20 finishes is each of his last four starts.
This biggest surprise was young gun Rickie Fowler. The 21-year-old burst onto the scene at the end of 2009 and has cemented his place in the world’s top 50 this season. Despite only finishing 20th in the US points list, Pavin has shown faith in the flamboyant youngster.
Anthony Kim will consider himself unlucky after playing a pivotal role in America’s victory at Valhalla two years ago and slipping to 9th in the points list due to injury. Other notable absentees are Lucas Glover, Sean O’Hair and Nick Watney.
The quartet join Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar and Jeff Overton in the America line up for Celtic Manor.
The American team consists of five rookies and five Major winners with 21 Major titles between them.
