{"id":12780,"date":"2016-09-30T12:27:15","date_gmt":"2016-09-30T12:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=12780"},"modified":"2016-09-30T12:32:34","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T12:32:34","slug":"ryder-cup-role-keeps-tiger-woods-on-ropes-not-inside-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/golf\/ryder-cup-role-keeps-tiger-woods-on-ropes-not-inside-them.html","title":{"rendered":"Ryder Cup role keeps Tiger Woods on ropes, not inside them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ryder Cup role keeps Tiger Woods on ropes, not inside them<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ryder Cup role keeps Tiger Woods on ropes, not inside them<\/strong> : CHASKA, Minn. \u2014 It was time for the U.S. Ryder Cup team picture to be taken and Tiger Woods wasn\u2019t exactly sure where to stand.<\/span><\/p>\n

He found a spot at the end of the back row, but wasn\u2019t there long before the photographer motioned for him to move. Tiger obliged, deciding to try the other end of the row. He started to settle in there, but lasted only a couple of seconds before the photographer shooed him away again, this time for good.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a photo for U.S. players only. Tiger Woods did not belong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sports fans, if you\u2019re still having some trouble coming to grips with a golf world without Tiger Woods, you\u2019re not alone. Tiger\u2019s having trouble too.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 14-time major winner who hasn\u2019t played competitively since August 2015 smiled sheepishly as he sidled to the sidelines while other members of the U.S. delegation enjoyed a good laugh at his expense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tiger joined in. Why not? This was indeed funny. It also was telling. Tiger has missed Ryder Cups before, in 2008 and 2014, both because of injuries. But this is the first time he has come to the Ryder Cup not as a player, but as a vice captain; not as the star, but as a member of the supporting cast.<\/span><\/p>\n

What the 40-year-old Tiger thinks of this, he\u2019s not saying. He has declined interview requests this week leading up to Friday\u2019s opening matches, admirably allowing the spotlight to remain focused on the dozen U.S. players.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been very thoughtful in the way that he\u2019s handled the Tiger Woods factor of being an influence but also being a distraction,\u201d U.S. captain Davis Love III said.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Tiger actually doing this week at Hazeltine National? His responsibilities range from helping with U.S. strategy over the three-day event to potentially having to grab a sandwich for a player in the middle of his round.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope guys are asking him to run and go get stuff for them, even if they don\u2019t want it,\u201d U.S. player Jimmy Walker said with a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Love sees Tiger\u2019s role as one that will focus on game plans, pairings and figuring out how best to attack the golf course.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patrick Reed is one of four U.S. players who has been practicing under Tiger\u2019s watchful eye all week.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got here, I didn’t quite know what to expect (from Tiger),\u201d Reed said Thursday. \u201cI’ve talked to him a little bit, but I haven’t spent a lot of time with him. And to have a guy like that who, if you ask him any question or if you need anything, he is there. He’s all-in. He’ll answer any question, whether it’s about golf, on the golf course, off the golf course, anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reed said his practice group wanted to play only nine holes on Monday, but when they finished, Reed decided he wasn\u2019t going in yet. He wanted to see the back nine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Someone decided to join him. It was Tiger.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was like, \u2018All right, well, let’s go.\u2019 And he walked it with me, helping me figure out the golf course. You don’t get that very often. And to have somebody do that for you, especially a guy like Tiger Woods, it meant a lot to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Woods and the Ryder Cup haven\u2019t had the best of relationships. He has played in seven Ryder Cups, and the United States lost six of them. He has played in 33 matches, winning 13, losing 17 and halving three. His singles record is good: 4-1-2. But when he has played with a teammate, he has lost more than he has won.<\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, then, there are doubters this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe could have an adverse effect in the team room,\u201d European stalwart Lee Westwood told ESPN. \u201cPeople have always seemed to try to do too much when they have partnered him. It might be different if he\u2019s one of the vice-captains. You don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I think we\u2019re about to find out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/strong> : http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/christinebrennan\/2016\/09\/29\/tiger-woods-ryder-cup-vice-captain\/91294358\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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