Tiger Woods can’t not pick himself for Presidents Cup after stunning win in Japan
Next Friday Tiger Woods will have to decide whether to pick himself to play in the Presidents Cup team he will captain at Royal Melbourne. His win in Japan left no-one in any doubt. He has to play.
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Tiger Woods equalled the all-time PGA Tour victory record and conceded he “got the captain’s attention” 10 days out from the deadline to pick himself to play in December’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
The three-shot victory at the ZOZO Championships in Japan was Woods 82nd, equalling the effort of legendary Sam Snead and propelled Woods, 43, to number six on the world rankings.
It was the first tournament for Woods, who will captain Team USA later this year, since knee surgery two months ago, and his only chance to solidify his Presidents Cup playing credentials before he locks in the four captain’s picks next Friday.
Woods, who won his fifth Masters title in April, has the support of his eight automatic selections, including world number four Justin Thomas, to pick himself.
“If he’s healthy and playing well, I’d take him 100 times out of 100,” Thomas said.
Garry Woodland, the US Open winner who played the final round in Japan with Woods and is seeking a captain’s pick himself, said Woods would be “dumb” not to.
“If he doesn’t, that’s dumb. It’s hard to bet against that guy, especially in match play. I would pick him,” Woodland, who finished fifth, said.
Still managing back stiffness and also playing with the knee he had repaired for the fifth time in August, Woods gave a fairly significant hint ahead of making his Presidents Cup picks.
“I think the player got the captain’s attention,” Woods said.
“I can still manage my way around the golf course. I know how to play. I was able to do that this week.”
Woods endured a long week in his return to tournament play, which began with a skins match against Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, who is set to play as a captain’s pick on the International Team at the Presidents Cup.
The tournament was also forced to Monday finish after an entire day’s play was lost when a typhoon lashed Japan on the weekend.
Woods spent time during the final round stretching his back and neck.
But he said the knee surgery he had had also helped address his back issues, and predicted a lot more golf in his future.
“Ironically, my back has been less sore because of it. It’s always going to be sore but it’s just less sore,” he said.
“I feel better, I’m able to hit shots that I know I can hit and this week was a good sign for the future.”
Woods won’t play again until his own tournament in the Bahamas, the week before the Presidents Cup begins at Royal Melbourne on December 12.
Originally published as Tiger Woods can’t not pick himself for Presidents Cup after stunning win in Japan
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