Tiger Woods confirmed he has apologised to the rookies on the USA Ryder Cup team for his indifferent showing in last month’s Ryder Cup.

Woods badly disappointed in managing to secure a half-a-point in his seventh Ryder Cup appearance, and that was after conceding the final putt of the competition to Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

It is understood from reports of the U.S. team rookie, Brandt Snedeker indicated Woods had spoken to Snedeker and fellow rookies Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley.

Tiger Woods presented with a model replica of a Turkish Airlines plane during a press conference in Belek. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“Yes, I had an opportunity to earn three points in the team sessions and I didn’t do that,” said Woods.

“My point there at the end didn’t matter as it was all said and done.

“But it didn’t set in for me for a few days as to what happened in Medinah

“I had two sick kids I had to care for and they also had to go to school. They had fevers and I was focussed on them for a couple of days.

“I then started to talk to my friends and team mates and once it all started to sink in, and the position we had been in and what transpired, yes it was tough for a couple of days.

“I texted Freddie (Couples) and Steve (Stricker) quite a bit, and like anything it is a tournament lost and you have to move on and focus on the next event.

“We lose far more than we win in this sport and you learn to move on and the next event is this week here in Turkey, and I’ve got a good match-up with Charl (Schwartzel).”

And the 14-time Major winning Woods has hinted that one day he would welcome the USA Ryder Cup captaincy role.

“One day that would be fantastic and a huge honour to be a captain of a Ryder Cup team but hopefully it doesn’t happen in the near future,” said Woods.

“I still want to be playing on a lot more teams but certainly one day when my golfing life is slowing down, and when it’s over, that would be a huge honour to be a part of a Ryder Cup from a captaincy side.”

And Woods also indicated that despite Team USA now having lost four of the last five Ryder Cups it has not lessened the resolve of the team to defeat Europe at Gleneagles in two year’s time.

“Our resolve has not changed since I was first in that team in 1997 as we have always been a team that wants to win the Ryder Cup or for that matter the Presidents Cup,” he said.

“And no lose feels good!”

Woods arrived in Turkey late this afternoon local time (MON) after a 10 ½ flight on his own private jet from Orlando for this week’s $US 5.2m Turkish Airlines World Golf Final in Antalya.

“I don’t face Rory to Wednesday but it’s just nice to be here as this is my first time in Turkey,” he said.

“I am trying to play all play around the world. I am playing in Malaysia in a few weeks time and that will be nice as I have not played there since Mark O’Meara and I won the World Cup in ’99.”

Unlike Woods, McIlroy has been to Turkey on prior visits supporting tennis girlfriend, Caroline Wozinacki competing in the season-ending WTF finals in Instanbul.

However on this occasion Wozinacki is present to support McIlroy and the Northern Irishman is determined to continue his recent run of success with victory along the Mediterranean shoreline.

“It’s going to be a very exciting week with eight of the best players in the world and the people of Turkey are going to see an event they’ve never seen before,” he said.

“I am still trying to come down from the high of the Ryder Cup but it’s just nice to be here.

“I haven’t touch a club since the Ryder Cup and I’ve just been chilling out with Caroline so I will get to the golf course early tomorrow morning and see if it’s still there.”