US Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love 111 had delivered Tiger Woods a huge boost believing the struggling star can qualify automatically for his Oakland Hills team.
Woods has not played in a Ryder Cup since he conceded a ‘half’ to Italy’s Francesco Molinari moments before Love’s team lost the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
However Woods has been a big part of the US Ryder Cup task force set-up in the wake of Phil Mickelson’s damming comments post Gleneagles.
And it’s in those discussions Love says he’s spoken often to the seven-time USA team capped Woods on being a member of Love’s team in a year’s time.
Tiger Woods and Davis Love 111 with the Ryder Cup. (Photo – Reuters)
“I am planning on Tiger making my team and from talking with Tiger, he’s determined to play his way into the side,” said Love.
“Of course, foremost he is trying to win this week so that he can qualify for the Presidents Cup next month but he’s also not out here just to make cut’s.
“But then I’ve always been close to Tiger and this whole task force thing involving guys like Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, (Phil) Micklenson Rickie (Fowler) and all of us has been good.
“I have spent so much time speaking to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson this past year than any time in my career.
“We wanted to know what is wrong the Ryder Cup so we’ve all been working together and because of that I am more comfortable in saying to guys like Tiger and Phil: ‘Hey, let’s play a practice round at the PGA on Sunday like we did because I now know what Tiger is doing.
“So we are all getting to know each other better through this task force. We’re all better connected and I am learning just how much Tiger wants to be a part of my team next year.
“So it’s all been good and since last December we have all gotten to be that much closer and that can only be good for the US team going forward.”
Love had played a back-nine Wyndham Championship with Love late on Tuesday and there was many instances where Love got a first-hand appreciation of Woods determination in striving to end a two-year winless drought.
“Tiger’s probably helped me in the last two, three weeks and more than I’ve helped . watching him, talking about putting, taking about trying to win golf tournaments,” said Love.
“So that’s been good for both of us, and just watching him putt has been good like when he questioned me about the grip on the putter I’m using. ‘Where did that come from?’
“I stole this putter I have this week from my son and it’s got a bigger grip on it but then I grabbed Tiger’s putter a few times on Tuesday just to try his out.
“Everybody is trying to do what Jordan Spieth is doing but then I’ve always wanted to do what Tiger does.
“So he’s reminded me of a couple of things always did well and then watching him play because when you get up close to him you learn something.”
Love 111 was speaking after moving into the Wyndham Championship clubhouse lead and a round capped in birding five of his opening eight holes but then posting 10 pars to add a 66 to his opening 64 and move to 10-under par.
Love is a former two-time Greensboro winner but hasn’t won on the main Tour in over seven years.
