Tiger and Ryder Cup

[aussiehack]

If he falls out of the top 10

Would he be a wild pick for Pavin?? I would depend on his schedule between now and then I guess. Could you imagine if Tiger continues to have a poor season and misses the Ryder Cup?? I can see his spin doctors coming up with a line like "Tiger is choosing to spend time with his family" if he was to miss out.

[shacochis06]

dude are you kidding even with his poor play he's still holding number one and comr us open that streak well contine. Not saying he well win it. But even if he does fall from number one which is high unlikely cmon man you rele think he's gona falll from the top ten? Not in a million years.

[toc]

Do you really think that Tiger, on the absurd chance that he misses Ryder Cup selection on points, would not be Pavin's first captain's pick? Come on man.

[aussiehack]

In the current US Ryder Cup standings, he is 10th! If he falls out of the top 10 he will have to rely on a Captains Pick from Corey Pavin. He is still the world No 1 but thats not how the team is picked.

If he remains injured or injured enough that he cant reproduce his A game like he hasnt been able to this year, there is a very real possibility that he may have to rely on a Captains Pick. If he only plays the Majors and maybe 5 other tournaments between now and then (which will a fair bit between now and the PGA, he will have to play well enough to remain in the Top 10. With the likes of Ricky Fowler breathing down his neck it may be a tough ask.

[deadsolid...shank]

If he does fall out of the top ten, it seems a no-brainer that Pavin would use a captain's pick, but I think the bigger question is would this give him an option to decline the invite and not play.

[jmvargas]

the only possible reason i can think of for tiger not to play in the ryder cup is medical....

[puttingmatt]

At this time, It is highly unlikely that Tiger falls out of the
top ten.

[dukedsp]

Only top 8 are automatic to the Ryder Cup. Tiger would have to be a captain's pick if the selection was today.

[dlygrisse]

If I was Pavin I wouldn't want Tiger on my team right now. His head is not in the game, he is not focused, and quite frankly Tiger has never really been that good of a Ryder Cup player. Tiger seems to mentally shut down after the PGA championship, the Ryder Cup has never seemed to be something he is passionate about.

If I was Pavin I would interview Tiger, if he didnt seem really excited about being on the team I would go with someone else. Of course this whole process is several months away, when August rolls around Tiger may have won twice and secured his position on the team, or he may be totally absent from the game on not even be considered.

Tiger would be a distraction to the team anyway, he would be constantly heckeld and interviewed, he has no game right now, we won two years ago without him, lost the previous 3 out of 4 with him, who really cares if he is on the team or not?

Tiger in Ryder Cup=overrated

[PavinsHat]

[quote name='dlygrisse' date='21 May 2010 - 08:25 AM' timestamp='1274444738' post='2457474']
If I was Pavin I wouldn't want Tiger on my team right now. His head is not in the game, he is not focused, and quite frankly Tiger has never really been that good of a Ryder Cup player. Tiger seems to mentally shut down after the PGA championship, the Ryder Cup has never seemed to be something he is passionate about.

If I was Pavin I would interview Tiger, if he didnt seem really excited about being on the team I would go with someone else. Of course this whole process is several months away, when August rolls around Tiger may have won twice and secured his position on the team, or he may be totally absent from the game on not even be considered.

Tiger would be a distraction to the team anyway, he would be constantly heckeld and interviewed, he has no game right now, we won two years ago without him, lost the previous 3 out of 4 with him, who really cares if he is on the team or not?

Tiger in Ryder Cup=overrated
[/quote]

I agree, keep him off the team. All he is is a gigantic bullseye for the European players and the Brit fans.

Problem is, Pavin and the PGA of America will be under tremendous pressure from the media (including the Brit media) to pick Tiger assuming he doesn't qualify on points. They need to sack up and reject that pressure. Can they? We'll see.

[HipCheck]

[quote name='deadsolid...shank' date='21 May 2010 - 07:54 AM' timestamp='1274442873' post='2457445']
If he does fall out of the top ten, it seems a no-brainer that Pavin would use a captain's pick, but I think the bigger question is would this give him an option to decline the invite and not play.
[/quote]

I seriously wonder if he'll decline. He'll site 'not wanting to be a distraction.'

Having said that, if he plays, I'd pair him with Phil. ***takes off cowboy hat***

[J13]

Tiger will play in the Ryder Cup, the ONLY reason that he wouldn't would be his decision. End of discussion.

[MBA-J]

Have you guys lost the plot?

You're telling me that if you're the Ryder Cup captain and TIGER FREAKING WOODS was available for selection, you'd skip over him?

Unreal.

[iloverickystevekarl]

Tiger Woods could not swing a golf club for the next 10 years and he'd still be my No.1 on any team. The man is statistically the best player in the world......and he doesn't even play.

[MtlJeff]

i don't think the team really suffers without him as Dlygrisse said... but it's Tiger Woods, he could have Pavin off'd if he wasn't picked. No way he's not on the team if he wants to play. Even if he doesn't win this year, heck even if he doesn't have another top 5 this year. Think anyone involved with USA golf wants to be the one to tell Tiger Woods he's not on the team?

[SpinMill75]

[quote name='dlygrisse' date='21 May 2010 - 05:25 AM' timestamp='1274444738' post='2457474']
If I was Pavin I wouldn't want Tiger on my team right now. His head is not in the game, he is not focused, and quite frankly Tiger has never really been that good of a Ryder Cup player. Tiger seems to mentally shut down after the PGA championship, the Ryder Cup has never seemed to be something he is passionate about.

If I was Pavin I would interview Tiger, if he didnt seem really excited about being on the team I would go with someone else. Of course this whole process is several months away, when August rolls around Tiger may have won twice and secured his position on the team, or he may be totally absent from the game on not even be considered.

Tiger would be a distraction to the team anyway, he would be constantly heckeld and interviewed, he has no game right now, we won two years ago without him, lost the previous 3 out of 4 with him, who really cares if he is on the team or not?

Tiger in Ryder Cup=overrated
[/quote]


I totally agree. I wouldn't want Tiger on the team. He would be too much of a side show from the event and distract all the guys who are playing.

[AWE46M3]

Lots of people assuming that Tiger even WANTS to play in the Ryder Cup. Whenever he's been asked he's kind of just said "if I have enough points to qualify" but to me that "IF" is huge. He didn't say "Yes, I'd love to play" or anything like that.

Maybe during the Ryder Cup he and McIlroy can sit around and play that video game they're both on the cover of. McIlroy thinks it's just an "exhibition" anyway IIRC.

Tiger may not be the best teammate, but to not have him on your team is just absurd. Hell, they could sit him out until Singles and he still might be worth having on the team.

[adsc4s]

I love watching the Ryder Cup as much as anyone but honestly, would you rather watch Kuchar and Glover or Stricker and Furyk vs. Tiger and anyone else on the team? Plus who else would you rather have, Holmes, Love, Crane, Fowler? Instead of Tiger? No way!

[PavinsHat]

If there's one thing we know about Tiger, it's that he hates the idea of anyone--anyone--making a buck off his name. The PGA of America and the Euro Tour are doing that and have been doing that with the Ryder Cup since 1997. This issue will never go away. I predict his participation in this event will cease unless some special financial arrangement is made. Of course he might not even make the team, in which case the point is moot.

[bjdrivers]

i hope Tiger makes the team just so Pavin doesn't have to make that decision. i enjoy watching tiger play even when he's chopping it up. that said, it would be fun to watch Fowler play in this event & see how he responds.

[MBA-J]

[quote name='SpinMill75' date='21 May 2010 - 07:25 PM' timestamp='1274484332' post='2458778']
[quote name='dlygrisse' date='21 May 2010 - 05:25 AM' timestamp='1274444738' post='2457474']
If I was Pavin I wouldn't want Tiger on my team right now. His head is not in the game, he is not focused, and quite frankly Tiger has never really been that good of a Ryder Cup player. Tiger seems to mentally shut down after the PGA championship, the Ryder Cup has never seemed to be something he is passionate about.

If I was Pavin I would interview Tiger, if he didnt seem really excited about being on the team I would go with someone else. Of course this whole process is several months away, when August rolls around Tiger may have won twice and secured his position on the team, or he may be totally absent from the game on not even be considered.

Tiger would be a distraction to the team anyway, he would be constantly heckeld and interviewed, he has no game right now, we won two years ago without him, lost the previous 3 out of 4 with him, who really cares if he is on the team or not?

Tiger in Ryder Cup=overrated
[/quote]


I totally agree. I wouldn't want Tiger on the team. He would be too much of a side show from the event and distract all the guys who are playing.
[/quote]

With all due respect, I disagree wholeheartedly. This is professional sports, not high school football where one player finds out his best friend got his girlfriend, the head cheerleader, pregnant. These are multi-millionaires playing an exhibition match. If they can't "focus" for a few days MONTHS after the original incidents, then they don't need to be on the team, either.

I guarantee the PGA of America would FORCE Pavin to pick Tiger. As the RC is in GB&I this year, North American viewing audiences will have to watch at British Open-esque start times. No Tiger? ZERO ratings for NBC. It's just the way it is.

To the original question, "who really cares if he is on the team or not?" Answers: Tim Finchem, Ty Votaw, Dick Ebersol. In the BUSINESS of the Ryder Cup, these are the only stakeholders that really matter.

[aussiehack]

[quote name='dukedsp' date='21 May 2010 - 10:23 PM' timestamp='1274444632' post='2457470']
Only top 8 are automatic to the Ryder Cup. Tiger would have to be a captain's pick if the selection was today.
[/quote]

Sorry I saw a chart with the top 10 on the golf coverage today and assumed the top 10 got in. I hope Tiger makes the team but i have a sneaking feeling that he may not be available this year, despite what Finchem and other would like.

[jaskanski]

[quote name='MBA-J' date='22 May 2010 - 05:23 AM' timestamp='1274505835' post='2459452']
To the original question, "who really cares if he is on the team or not?" Answers: Tim Finchem, Ty Votaw, Dick Ebersol. In the BUSINESS of the Ryder Cup, these are the only stakeholders that really matter.
[/quote]


See - that's the problem. The Ryder Cup has lost much of it's original concept and has become money event. It's architect, Sam Ryder, had originally intended the match to be be played for honour and the love of the game - not for money. Tom Watson nailed it in 1993 when as captain of the US team said that the match was played not for money, but for pride. He added that he believed that this was the true spirit not only of golf, but sport in general. He was spot on.
For better or worse, this event has become a jewel in the crown of the golf media circus - it generates a huge amount of money. It gets rather spoilt when players demand money just to be there too and in the light of recent events, gets spoilt even further when the media make waves to get a certain golfer in the frame to generate more interest and more money. Get over it - the Ryder Cup is better than that and it doesn't deserve to play second fiddle to any one player. One man does not make one team and one man certainly doesn't make an event.
If Tiger makes the team, great. But don't let the potential money making aspect of his appearance be the deciding factor as to why he should be there.
The Ryder Cup will do fine whoever plays in it, just as long as they remember [b][i]why[/i][/b] they are playing in it. It doesn't need Tiger to make it any better. Besides, his Ryder Cup record ain't all that either.

[dubbie]

Who, if any, have declined a spot on the Ryder Cup for reasons other than injury? If they did decline were they captain's picks or did they qualify based on their record for the previous 2 years? I could probably google and find out, but am pretty sure one of ya'll have the answer. Thanks

[HCEG1]

There aren't many worse places to be in a cold, wet October than stuck in a Welsh valley for the best part of a week, unless you happen to be a sheep...

Should Tiger not be there, he won't be shedding any tears

[elcantante]

Rider cup is overrated ever since Justin leonard outburst on the green.. I hated watching it

[stevehj]

Tiger might be the best player, but he has a losing Ryder cup record. If he doesn't make the team, why would it be so compelling to pick him? Isn't the objective to win the event, not simply put on a show?

[MBA-J]

[quote name='stevehj' date='23 May 2010 - 10:40 AM' timestamp='1274625648' post='2461650']
Tiger might be the best player, but he has a losing Ryder cup record. If he doesn't make the team, why would it be so compelling to pick him? Isn't the objective to win the event, not simply put on a show?
[/quote]

LeBron James hasn't won an NBA championship. If you were picking players for an international all-star game, you wouldn't pick him?

What's the difference?

[deadsolid...shank]

[quote name='MBA-J' date='23 May 2010 - 08:52 AM' timestamp='1274626354' post='2461675']
[quote name='stevehj' date='23 May 2010 - 10:40 AM' timestamp='1274625648' post='2461650']
Tiger might be the best player, but he has a losing Ryder cup record. If he doesn't make the team, why would it be so compelling to pick him? Isn't the objective to win the event, not simply put on a show?
[/quote]

LeBron James hasn't won an NBA championship. If you were picking players for an international all-star game, you wouldn't pick him?

What's the difference?
[/quote]

The difference that I see is that if you are picking LeBron for that game that means that he wants to be there. I've never felt that Tiger wants to be there. If I'm picking my last spots for any team, I want guys who really want to be on that team.

[Shivas Irons]

If I was Pavin I wouldn't want Tiger on my team right now. His head is not in the game, he is not focused, and quite frankly Tiger has never really been that good of a Ryder Cup player. Tiger seems to mentally shut down after the PGA championship, the Ryder Cup has never seemed to be something he is passionate about.

 

If I was Pavin I would interview Tiger, if he didnt seem really excited about being on the team I would go with someone else. Of course this whole process is several months away, when August rolls around Tiger may have won twice and secured his position on the team, or he may be totally absent from the game on not even be considered.

 

Tiger would be a distraction to the team anyway, he would be constantly heckeld and interviewed, he has no game right now, we won two years ago without him, lost the previous 3 out of 4 with him, who really cares if he is on the team or not?

 

Tiger in Ryder Cup=overrated

 

 

I totally agree. I wouldn't want Tiger on the team. He would be too much of a side show from the event and distract all the guys who are playing.

 

With all due respect, I disagree wholeheartedly. This is professional sports, not high school football where one player finds out his best friend got his girlfriend, the head cheerleader, pregnant. These are multi-millionaires playing an exhibition match. If they can't "focus" for a few days MONTHS after the original incidents, then they don't need to be on the team, either.

 

I guarantee the PGA of America would FORCE Pavin to pick Tiger. As the RC is in GB&I this year, North American viewing audiences will have to watch at British Open-esque start times. No Tiger? ZERO ratings for NBC. It's just the way it is.

 

To the original question, "who really cares if he is on the team or not?" Answers: Tim Finchem, Ty Votaw, Dick Ebersol. In the BUSINESS of the Ryder Cup, these are the only stakeholders that really matter.

 

This thread is asking the wrong question....

 

IF Tiger is healthy AND playing, then there is NO question that there is a spot for him on the team. The element of his participation that is open to debate is whether or not he would choose to participate, and I would guess the answer to that question is "likely not".

 

Despite his professed patriotism, Tiger has never enjoyed playing is such events. And while his mental toughness under competitive pressure is legendary, his skin is also paper-thin when it comes to distractions on the golf course, or criticism for his performance on it. Tiger would see heckling, the likes of which we have NEVER seen in a golf event, should he choose to head overseas for the competition this fall. You can be rest assured there would be 15 Brits lined along the 1st tee box, each wearing a different mask depicting one of his publicly outed mistresses.

 

The one wild card is he pressure from his "handlers" who continue to try and repair his public image and introduce "the new and improved Tiger". You know, the one who says "it's not about winning championships; it's about how you live your life... and how many people you can help along the way".

 

Unfortunately, that "new Tiger" ALSO ripped Peter Kostas' head off in an interview moments after finishing 4th in the Masters, but less than a week after (in his scheduled press conference) he shared with the world his new value system and priorities.

 

My guess is, in the end, he finds a reason NOT to play and tries to spin it as a "decision he DEEPLY regrets but is forced into" (by health, family priorities, etc.)