Tue, Sep 07 10 10:17 PM
United States captain Corey Pavin named Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler on Tuesday as his four wildcard selections for the Ryder Cup against Europe next month.
Woods, Johnson, Cink and PGA Tour rookie Fowler join automatic choices Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar on the 12-man American team.
The selection of Woods had been widely expected, with the world number one having improved his form in recent weeks after struggling for much of this season.
"It's great to be a part of this team," 14-times major winner Woods said via telephone after Pavin had announced his four picks on the seventh floor of the New York Stock Exchange. "I am honoured to be selected.
"A couple of months ago I was trying to make the team on points, but I didn't. The last two events I played, I played much better and here we are. I think my game is not that far away."
Woods, who is winless this season after 11 starts on the PGA Tour, will be making his sixth appearance in the biennial competition.
"Tiger is one of 12 players on the team, and is as important as any other player," said Pavin, who was flanked by his assistant captains Davis Love III, Tom Lehman and Paul Goydos for the news conference.
"The objective here is to have 12 players that make up Team USA, having to go out there with one goal in mind, and that's try to win the Ryder Cup in Wales.
WOODS DOUBTS
Asked whether he had any doubts that Woods would make the team, Pavin replied: "I didn't think about it very much. I was just waiting and watching.
"I was hoping that he would qualify on points. He didn't. And then I just waited to see how he was going to play."
The selections of 2009 British Open champion Cink, a veteran of the last four Ryder Cups, and 2007 Masters winner Johnson had also been widely expected.
However the choice of 21-year-old Tour rookie Fowler, who has yet to win in his debut season on the U.S. circuit, came as a surprise.
"He's deserving," Pavin said of the richly talented prospect who has been a PGA Tour runner-up twice this year. "There's a lot of guys who are deserving.
"It just came down to feelings. I have a gut feeling about Rickie. That's the way I went."
Fowler was delighted to gain selection.
"It was hard to sleep last night but this is awesome to be selected," he said. "I have to thank Corey for giving me the opportunity to go over there, being a young player, it is a pretty special opportunity."
Holders the U.S. take on Colin Montgomerie's European team at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales from Oct 1-3.
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