Palm Beach Gardens, FL …
Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk is not about to climb the Eiffel Tower with excitement at the notion of Tiger Woods being both a Versailles vice-captain and a playing member of the 2018 USA defending team.
Furyk announced Woods and Steve Stricker as his second and third vice-captains after appointing 2016 victorious captain, Davis Love 111 as his initial French deputy late last year.
Woods had hinted last week at the Genesis Open why he could not be both a vice-captain and also be a member of Furyk’s 12-man team looking to successfully defend the trophy on European soil for a first occasion since 1993.
And while Furyk warmed to Woods remark the 47-year old veteran of nine Ryder Cups between 1997 and 2014 is clearly lukewarm on what would be a precendent in the modern era of the Ryder Cup.
“I really enjoyed Tiger’s answer last week at the Genesis Open when he said why couldn’t he do both,” said Furyk.
“But then in asking Tiger to be one of my vice-captains what we decided at the time was to do what was really the best for the team and what is best for Tiger.
“Though that will be a bridge we will cross when we know better but if Tiger could be as valuable as a player sure we would want him playing on the team.
“But there is so much time to go and then Tiger has only played three events in the last three months, his event in December and two PGA Tour events this year.
“He had that great finish at Torrey Pines and we already talking Ryder Cup, so that is the nature of being Tiger Woods.
“So, I am anxious to see how he plays this year and how things go and we will do what is best for he and the team.”
It is the third straight occasion Woods will be a vice-captain having been a deputy under Love 111 at Medinah and then inspirational under Stricker’s leadership in thumping the International Presidents Cup side last November.
