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RIDGEDALE, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 22: Tiger Woods of the United States looks on from the range prior to the Payne’s Valley Cup on September 22, 2020 on the Payne’s Valley course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Payne’s Valley Cup)
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RIDGEDALE, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 22: Tiger Woods of the United States looks on from the range prior to the Payne’s Valley Cup on September 22, 2020 on the Payne’s Valley course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Payne’s Valley Cup)
Tiger Woods has represented the United States in eight Ryder Cup tournaments. He was also the playing vice-captain in the 2018 edition. This year, however, he is forced to sit back and watch from the sidelines as he’s recovering from a car crash.
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AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 10: Tiger Woods celebrates after holing a putt for eagle on the eighth green during the final round of the 2011 Masters Tournament on April 10, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Recently, Justin Thomas came with pleasant news regarding Woods‘ views ahead of the Ryder Cup. He revealed that the team had his full backing in their effort to break Europe’s winning streak at Whistling Straits this weekend.
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‘I’m here if you need me kind of thing’ with Tiger Woods
Justin Thomas explains, “I got together with [Tiger Woods] a couple times last week. More so just going over to see how he’s doing as a friend, more than as a vice-captain or if he’s even still considered that. I don’t know. Yeah, he’s so into it. He obviously wants the best for our team. He wants the best for all of us. It means a lot to him.”
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Golf – Scottish Open – The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland, Britain – July 11, 2021 Justin Thomas of the U.S. during the final round REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
“I think people would be surprised – obviously you all saw in Australia how much it meant to him, but just the amount of work and the amount of hours he’s willing to spend to make sure that he feels like the team is prepared and as ready to go as possible is pretty cool,” Thomas added.
“At the end of the day, he also understands that we’re 12 of the best players in the world and we know how to play golf,” continued Thomas. “Sometimes less is more, so I think he’s great at balancing that out. It was more, I’m here if you need me kind of thing.”
Woods’ focus is on ‘making a comeback’- says Stricker
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USA captain Steve Stricker had earlier admitted that he would have loved to have Woods as vice-captain. Thereafter, he said, “Probably not going to happen… I think it’s just not a good time for him to be here physically because of where he’s at in his rehabilitation and tough course to walk.”
Stricker added on a positive note, “But he’s getting better and his focus and mine, is on making a comeback to play again. We don’t want to get in the way of that because we would all love to see him come back and play.”
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Injuries have plagued Woods’ career in the last couple of years. And his name as a dominant player on the U.S. team will most likely end this year. However, the team will always have his back and best wishes, no matter where he cheers them on from.
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