"I have my doubts about how he will fit in on the team this year."

Peter Oosterhuis, talking about Tiger's inclusion on this year's Ryder Cup squad.

"He should be leading the team and inspiring the team. They should be saying 'I've got Tiger on my Ryder Cup team, we're going to demolish the opposition,' and that hasn't happened."

Oosterhuis went on to say that the effect Tiger could have on the side would damage, rather than help, his teammates.

Woods has underperformed in previous Ryder Cup tournaments despite huge success on the PGA Tour.

"It is not so much about how he will play, it's the affect he will have on the team," Oosterhuis said.

"I don't think he's going to help the team. I think he's just going to muddy the waters and cause problems that they don't need.

"They need to be thinking about golf and saying 'Hey, we're a team, we're playing together and we want to beat the opposition and let's not have any static on the side."

Comments

[Goose]

Talk about pulling a quote out of your ass. First, Oosty is a European and is clearly trying to be a catalyst for his vision. Second, he has no idea (neither do I) what it is in the team room. Saying he may muddy the waters is one thing. To declare he will hurt the team is asinine.

[Amen Coroner]

Oustie must've switched sides cause this sorta stuff is what Tiger used to feed off of... US will retain now thanks!

[Amen Coroner]

Depends on his date... how muddy the water gets right?

[RickABQ]

Let's see - the two prevailing views I've seen in the media appear to be that Tiger will a) really hurt the team, or b) that he will be humbled and be the bestest buddy of everyone there and really be playing to get back the fans (and sponsors). How about a third view - he will be of little consequence just like in every Ryder Cup in the past?

[BenSeattle]

How about Eldrick's truth-twisting answer in today's news conference. When it was pointed out that he was "dismissive" of the Ryder Cup in the past, Woods shot back that he's never been dismissive, that he 'always wanted to be part of that team.' Oh really? Then why, a few years ago, did he downplay the importance of a player's record in the Cup, asking the media room: "Doe anybody know Jack Nicklaus' Ryder Cup record?" Implying, of course, that the "exhibition" wasn't important to a golfer's place in history. Well, it's important to Woods THIS year, huh? Hangin' with the boys, playin' a little golf, chatting up the wives (!).... all in a determined I.M.G-orchestrated effort -- that began last Thanksgiving Night -- to put the lying, cheating, deceptive control freak in the very best light as he continues on the One Thing that matters most -- more than his kids, more than his marriage, obviously -- his continued pursuit of the Nicklaus record.

[Jimmy]

i don't like these quotes wherehe person says something provocative but they don't go into detail. Why willl Tiger be an issue? Why do people overanalyze this stuff? Team bonding, player pods, pairings, etc. it's all nonsense. Golf, comes down to putting... always has, always will. I realize i'm going out on a limb here but that Tiger kid is a pretty good putter.

[Willie]

Amen, Jimmy. Tim McCarver used to say about Bob Gibson: "He's lucky; every time he pitches, the other team goes into a slump."
Along those same lines, whenever a Ryder Cup team makes putts, the captain sure gets smarter. Nothing else matters.
Well, ok, except for the fun of watching Tiger sticking out like a sore ACL as the team marches 2x2 with wives during opening ceremony. Sorta like Monty had to do four years ago. Oh, and this year, too, I guess.
Since we're on the subject, how much better would the Ryder Cup be if the wives stayed home? Just asking.

[JL]

The real ? is: Is TW back to his old ways off the course?

[d.b.cooper]

Pavin HAD to take Woods.

If he didn't, the media hacks would have had a field day and it would have been distracting as hell.

Plus, I'm sure it pleased the network.

[Wonk.]

JL,

The real ? is: Why the hell do you care?

[Zinger]

Once Zach and Tiger pray about it, everything will be fine.

[McDoogelstein]

"Woods has underperformed in previous Ryder Cup tournaments despite huge success on the PGA Tour"

Actually Tiger is 3-1-1 in singles matches at the Ryder Cup. He hasn't fared as well when he's been paired with guys like Mickelson by knucklehead Ryder Cup Captains. Zinger knew it was all about chemistry. If Pavin doesn't pair Woods with Stricker, he's Coo-Coo for Cocoa Puffs.

[digsouth]

Wow, I'm just amazed OOSTY doesn't write with a nervous laugh at the end of each sentence. ;) very quaint~disturbing.

His statement here makes you question how much TW these guys have to throw mention/kudo on air per segment. PK[bftd] knows..lol...trade secret? Come on ....we won't tell!


Pavin has everything to lose and nothing to gain by picking TW. He really had no choice. I hope TW plays well.

digsouth heh, heh

[Goose]

d.b. - of course Pavin had to take him...he's the best player in the world and was right outside the bubble on points. It's a no-brainer.

[RickABQ]

McD - Unfortunately, Tiger's singles matches are only 20% of the total he's played. He's 7-12-1 in foursomes/fourballs. Hard to blame all that on his partners, although I must admit the pairing with Phil was priceless for no other reason than the expression on Tiger's face when Phil hit that last drive.

[Bob S]

Which wife is he going to hit on at the cocktail party?

I think he should show up with two or three skags on his arm, in appropriate undress of course.

I want to see Miss Prissy Pants Lisa Pavin get all snotty when Tiger makes a pass at her ... oh wait, Tiger only dates blond women ...

[Marky Mark]

I remember Tiger asking if anyone remembers Jack's Ryder Cup record.

I do. It was a WINNING record.

And Eldrick has a LOSING record.

Mind you, considering he is an aspiring amateur pornstar, I will overlook his inability to grasp the obvious.

[D.]

Tiger won 3 consecutive US Junior Ams and US Ams which are ultimately match play events. For whatever reason his pro record has not been quite as good. As his style of play has become a bit more conservative, it seems less conducive to match play.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

McDoogelstein ... "Actually Tiger is 3-1-1 in singles matches at the Ryder Cup"

Oh yeah, well he's 0-1-0 in the Walker Cup singles! Venue - Wales! Opponent - Gary Wolstenholme, stellar short-hitter!

[Tom Ierubino]

Anyone here discussing Tiger's match play record remember the Presidents Cup last year? Tiger went 5-0. He went 3-2 in the 2007 Presidents Cup, so that's 8-2 in his last two Presidents Cup appearances. He also went 3-2 at the 2006 Ryder Cup, his last appearance in that event. That makes him 11-4 in his last 3 Cup appearances.

And speaking of his match play record as a pro, Tiger has won the WGC-Accenture Match Play three times and reached the final another time, losing to Darren Clarke in 2000.

As to comparing Tiger's Ryder Cup record with Jack's, Tiger and his American contemporaries are competing against a team from Europe, not a team just from Great Britain & Ireland as Jack, Arnie and Billy Casper did. Because of this, the competition the U.S. faces in the Ryder Cup is far superior in the last 20-25 years to the competition it faced in the 1960s and '70s.

[OWGR Fan]

Tom you should know by know that the facts have no place here for many members of the Shack Snark Squad.

That said as good as Tigers record has been on the last three team events with what has transpired those records really don't merit consideration now as Tigers game is nowhere near the level it was this time last fall or in 2007 and 2006. If he wins in the next two weeks (provided he makes it to Atlanta) they can be in the discussion. JMO.

[Oliver Chettle]

Before the selection I felt certain that it was in Europe's interest for Woods to be picked, because his presence will reduce the Americans' chances of winning. Now I'm not so sure. Perhaps the controversy that would have ensued had he not been picked would have been more damaging to the Americans. The best thing, from their point of view, would have been for him to have been unavailable.