CNN
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Tiger Woods may kind a part of the US Ryder Cup group – or a minimum of, Zach Johnson isn’t ruling it out.
Forward of the Sony Open in Hawaii, US captain Johnson mentioned he wouldn’t low cost deciding on Woods to compete within the match if the 47-year-old didn’t qualify for the group routinely.
“I might solely ponder having him on the group if he felt – if he was placing up some numbers and a few scores, No. 1, the place he’s displaying some signal of being aggressive, “Johnson mentioned at a media convention on Wednesday.
“After which No. 2, that dialogue can be had with the opposite guys which are part of that group, and particularly him. If there’s something I belief in Tiger Woods, is that he’s extraordinarily invested on this group and the longer term Cups. Extraordinarily invested. I can’t communicate that sufficient,” added Johnson.
“After which I believe you’ll do something and all the pieces for the betterment of the group. I assume he would say … I don’t like basing on assumptions … however I’m assured that he would say, ‘Yeah, I can play, or no, I can’t.’”
Final 12 months, Johnson confirmed Woods can be a part of the US Ryder Cup “in some capability,” including that Woods had made it a “precedence.”
“Given who he’s and what he’s all about, I can’t inform you proper now: I don’t know if he will likely be right here subsequent 12 months, however he will likely be part of this group in some capability,” Johnson mentioned.
Nevertheless, Woods’ well being may complicate this, Johnson conceded.
“He’s gone by way of some issues as of late that make it tough, whether or not it’s journey or what-have-you,” mentioned the US Ryder Cup captain.
Damage has hampered Woods’ latest profession, his enjoying time decimated since he suffered critical leg accidents in a automotive accident in February 2021.
The 47-year-old withdrew from the Hero World Problem in December citing his foot ache, and at varied factors had appeared to be battling motion in the course of the seventh version of The Match that month.
“I believe one thing that’s life like is enjoying the tour someday, by no means full time, ever once more, however choose and select, similar to Mr. (Ben) Hogan did,” Woods instructed Golf Digest after his accident in 2021.
“Decide and select a couple of occasions a 12 months and also you mess around that. You apply round that, and also you gear your self up for that. And also you play. I believe that’s how I’m going to need to play it any more.
“It’s an unlucky actuality, however it’s my actuality. And I perceive it, and I settle for it.”
A biennial competitors which alternates between Europe and the US, the Ryder Cup is being performed in Italy for the primary time later this 12 months – September 25 to October 1 – on the Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership, which is 10 miles from the middle of Rome.
Group US regained the Ryder Cup in 2021 following a traditionally dominant efficiency over Europe at Whistling Straits.
