• Ryder Cup

Pavin expects Tiger to make Ryder Cup team

ESPN staff
June 30, 2010
Tiger Woods has endured mixed results following his return to the golf course © Getty Images
Enlarge

American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is confident Tiger Woods will make the US team.

Pavin has four captain's picks in addition to eight automatic qualifiers for the US team for this year's competition at Celtic Manor in October, and despite inconsistent results since making his return to golf in April, Pavin insists the world No. 1 merits a place in the team.

"I'm not concerned about whether he'll make the team on points - it'll be fantastic, I want him on the team," Pavin told the BBC.

Woods, who prepares to defend his AT&T National title at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia this week, failed to make an impact on his return to the sport after a five-month break, but he finished three shots off the lead at the US Open and Pavin expects the 14-time Major winner to continue improving.

"He's the number-one player in the world," he said. "There's something wrong with you if you don't want him on the team. I want him to be playing well. He's finished in the top five in the last two major championships and he's put himself on the team right now - as it stands he's seventh on the list.

"I expect him to go up on that list and improve his position and he'll make the team no problem."

Woods' record at the Ryder Cup is a blemish on his otherwise impressive CV. In five tournaments he has been on the winning team only once, and the world No. 1 has won just 44 per cent of his matches. He missed the 2008 event as he recovered from knee surgery.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices