USA Ryder Cup captain, Jim Furyk indicated his reasons for not playing Tiger Woods on day two of last fortnight’s Ryder Cup in France.

After ending a more than five-year victory drought at the Tour Championship, Woods played just three matches over the three days and lost all three.

It was a big disappointment for the visiting USA Team no doubt looking to see Woods produce the form that took him to victory on the East Lake course.

But it became apparent in teaming in the opening session on Friday morning with Patrick Reed the spark was not there and with the duo going down 3 & 1 to the Europeans Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari.

Woods was surprisingly rested for the afternoon and then came out on Saturday morning again paried with Reed but again the USA duo were humbled by Fleetwood and Molinari to the tune of 4 & 3.

Woods was again rested for the afternoon.

He was then handed a 3 & 1 defeat in the Sunday Singles by Jon Rahm.

Furyk, and interviewed Monday on The Golf Channel was asked why he rested Woods on both Friday and Saturday afternoon.

“Yes, I considered resting him (Tiger) more and that had a lot to do with Friday. He looked a little drained and he looked he lacked a little energy,” said Furyk.

“So, we decided to rest Tiger on Friday afternoon.  I felt good about him getting some rest and get right back it on Saturday morning when he looked like he had a lot more tap in his step. He played a solid round of golf in the Fourball and we needed him to go Saturday afternoon.

“I feel like the guys we had in the alternate shot format that he (Tiger) controls the ball very well and he controls his irons better than any player I have ever seen and I wanted to see him out in that format.

“He had the energy to go 36-holes that day.”

And Furyk spoke of Phil Mickelson, who had been one of Furyk’s ‘wildcard’ picks but played just two matches, including delivering Europe the victory when he put his tee shot into water off the 16th and hand Francesco Molinari a 4 & 2 win.

“Golf should never surprise any of us and form comes and goes, and heck he was leading or close to the lead this week,” said Furyk.

“No, I know Phil was working really hard.  He had good, solid events in New Jersey at the Northern Trust and at the Dell where he finished with a 63 and wasn’t at his best form at the BMW  or the Tour Championship but he was working really hard on his game.

“He and his teacher were on the range often where he was hitting a lot of balls practicing.  He was keeping me informed as to what was going on and how he felt about his game.

“It felt we wanted to get him out in the Fourball session with Bryson on the Friday morning but he wasn’t as comfortable with his golf swing, so we put four groups out there.  We felt we were in good form and we were trying to get off to a good start.

“Phil worked hard on his game all week.  He put his heart out there and worked hard.  He had some good sessions on Thursday afternoon and on Friday morning.  We had some folks out there with him and we got some positive feedback so we decided we would put him out in the alternate shot format on Friday afternoon.

“One thing I can say that is the game of golf.  He worked as hard as he could to get his game in shape and put it all out there on the line.

“The thing is you have to remember this is Phil Mickelson provides a ton of experience, and he provides a lot to this team.

“Playing well, not playing well as he brings so much to the table as a leader, as a spokesman and some who helps the younger players.

“He’s a great player.”