Corey Pavin has a big decision to make. As captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup, he has to assemble the best team possible as they take on Europe in this biannual golf tournament. That includes whether or not to put Tiger Woods on the team. Given the past nine months of what Tiger has gone through personally and professionally, even he would confess that he shouldn’t play Ryder Cup.
I feel that Tiger should not be put on the Ryder Cup team. Critics will say that Tiger brings in big ratings, eyeballs, and interest for the Ryder Cup competition. That is true and accurate. I offer a rebuttal: it’s likely that Tiger isn’t going to return to form in time for the Ryder Cup, and who’s going to watch a struggling Tiger stumble all over the course? The fair-weather fans who only watch golf to watch Woods isn’t going to keep tuning in if he continues to look bad.
If you track his progress this year, he has gotten worse in each tournament he has played.
- in the first 5 tournaments he has played, he’s finished in the top 20, missed the cut in one and withdrew in another. Since the U.S. Open, he finished tied for 46th, 23rd, 78th, and 28th respectively.
- he’s ranked 112th in the FedEx Cup standings,
- and finally, Phil Mickelson and him are terrible in Ryder Cup play overall.
There are some golfers who are red hot and playing well this season. You put the “hottest” golfers on the team, the guys who are on top of their game “right now” not yesterday or tomorrow.
Right now.
Zach Johnson, Anthony Kim, and Lucas Glover are what the U.S. needs on the Ryder Cup team “right now.” Tiger doesn’t have it “right now” and I feel it’s wrong to add him to the team, solely to make fans and television executives happy.
Big television ratings be damned.
There’s nothing wrong with making an unpopular decision. Even if it’s for the best of the team.
