Tiger Woods’ and Phil Mickelson’s mediocre Ryder Cup records did not stop US captain Jim Furyk from adding the duo to his team on Tuesday for this month’s showdown with Europe.
Woods has played on only one victorious Ryder Cup team (1999) in seven appearances, an astonishing number for one of the game’s all-time greats.
Mickelson, although he has been on the winning team three times, has been on the losing end all five times that he has been on the visiting side.
Photo: AFP
There were no surprises when Furyk revealed his three captain’s picks in Philadelphia, with 24-year-old Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the past two events on the PGA Tour, chosen along with the seasoned Woods and Mickelson.
The US is to defend the Cup at the Sept. 28 to 30 event against Europe at Le National in Paris.
Furyk said the trio were chosen with the venue in mind.
“We’re heading over into foreign soil. It’s going to be an interesting crowd,” Furyk said.
“They are boisterous, I have a lot of respect for them, and we are looking for players that we thought would handle that situation well and would thrive, love the challenge ahead of them, and naming these three players, that’s what we’ve done,” he said.
Furyk heaped particular praise on 14-times major champion Woods, who would now relinquish his role as a vice captain.
“It’s been great to have his help and to get a little feel of one of the best minds in the history of the game on your side helping you out,” he said. “We’re all excited to see him healthy again, to see his game playing so well.”
Woods, 42, would return after missing the past two Ryder Cups with a persistent back injury.
“I haven’t been part of the team playing-wise for six years,” Woods said. “This year to have the honor of being able to play again is beyond special.”
“This team is young, full of guys in their 20s,” he added. “It’s a great mix of guys.”
Woods has a pedestrian Ryder Cup record of 13 wins, 17 losses and three halves, although he has been stellar in singles, losing only once, on his debut in 1997.
Mickelson, 48, would be making a record 12th appearance in the event, moving past European great Nick Faldo.
“This is most likely my last chance to go over to Europe and be part of a winning team in Europe,” Mickelson said, speaking of his desire to fill the void in his record.
The US last won an away Ryder Cup in 1993.
Mickelson has an 18-20-7 Ryder Cup record.
Furyk announced that David Duval, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar would join Davis Love III and Steve Stricker as vice captains in Paris.
Furyk plans to announce his final captain’s pick on Monday to complete the 12-man team.
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