NORTON, Massachusetts, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods appeared to end the uncertainty over his participation in next month’s Ryder Cup with a storming finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship yesterday.
If U.S. captain Corey Pavin had any lingering doubts about making Woods one of his four wildcard picks tosday, they are likely to have been dispelled after the world number one birdied three of the last four holes for a closing 68 at the TPC Boston.
That helped the 14-times major winner climb to joint 11th on 10-under 274, 12 strokes behind winner Charley Hoffman.
Woods also retained his number one ranking for the 274th successive week. Phil Mickelson had a chance to take top spot by finishing third or better here but he had a back nine meltdown, slumping to a 76 for 277.
“I missed the last one because I was injured and it would be nice to be on the team,” Woods told reporters. “I enjoy playing in the Ryder Cup and going out there against those guys with my team mates.”
The U.S. holders take on Europe at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales from Oct. 1-3.
“On the road … you get booed a lot, you get jeered and people say things they shouldn’t say,” added Woods.
“It comes from both sides. They (the Americans) did it with Monty (Colin Montgomerie), so it goes both ways, and I’ve had that experience and understand how to deal with it and make it a positive thing.”
Woods failed to qualify in the eight automatic places for the 12-man Ryder Cup team due to poor form and infrequent appearances earlier this year.
After one of the worst performances of his career at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio four weeks ago he has turned his form around with new coach Sean Foley.
Woods tied for 28th at the U.S. PGA Championship three weeks ago and was equal 12th at the Barclays tournamentlast week.
The American said he was now able to correct his swing faults in mid-round.
While Woods looks certain to earn one of Pavin’s four picks, the others are not quite as easy to predict.
Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Hoffman are among those vying for the other three spots.
