United States Ryder Cup Captain has backed Tiger Woods current form
- With the Ryder Cup fast approaching, US Captain Corey Pavin has jumped to the defence of close friend and fellow American Tiger Woods over his current form
The world number one has looked a shadow of his former self in 2010 with the ghost of November’s sex scandal still following him.
He returned to finish fourth in both the Masters and the US Open
but continues to struggle on the putting green and with his swing.
But Pavin, who has to name his four wildcard picks for the US team on September 7, believes Woods should not be judged against his past performances.
“I think he played quite a bit better at the PGA than at Bridgestone, I think he’ll be the first to tell you that,” Pavin told Sky Sports.
“I was encouraged by some of his media comments, that he wants to play and he wants me to pick him. I’ll be watching him, I’ll be talking with him, obviously he’s high up on my list of players to see.
“He’s the number one player in the world, and if you took his name away and put Mr X in there you’d say he’s done pretty well this year.
“I think we’re all putting him up to his standards and the standards he sets himself, but he’s actually done pretty well this year and I think people overlook that.
“He’s 12th on the points list and he’s been in the top eight almost all year, if he was just a name and not Tiger Woods, you’d be considering him.
“Everyone seems to be putting him on a comparison to what he’s done his whole career. He’s still playing some pretty good golf, to my mind. Would I like to see him playing better? Absolutely.”
