In recent weeks he has shown Corey Pavin that he wants to play. He made all the right noises at the USPGA Championship and that was a real positive for the American captain. Tiger said he wanted to be at Celtic Manor, if his game was in shape, and I think it will be.

There are clear signs that he is starting to play better. But for a poor first round at last week's Deutsche Bank Championship he would have been right in the mix and he is showing glimpses of top form again.

Perhaps his recent divorce has given him a bit of closure and he can start to move forward and begin to create a different life for himself. Everybody needs balance in their lives and since he has seemingly achieved that he seems to have found some form in his golf again.

And I believe the rest of the American team will be pleased to see him included. Over the last few months I have found myself warming to Woods and we've seen glimpses of a more "real" person.

There has been irony in his humour and some self-deprecation as he has been through a torrid time and perhaps that will endear him to some of his team-mates. I don't see how his inclusion can have any negative impact on the rest of the team.

Remember, he is still the world number one and anybody standing next to him on the first tee will know that they need to do something special to beat him. Woods doesn't have a great Ryder Cup record, but he's still one of the greatest players that has ever lived and that fact won't be lost on any opponent.

Yes, he won't be as intimidating as he was when he was at his best, but who's to say he won't find that form again?

Surprise choice

There was no surprise in the selections of Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink. Pavin wants players with experience of winning major championships and of playing in Ryder Cups and those guys have it in abundance.

But Rickie Fowler was a surprise choice. I see that as a gamble by Pavin.

Personally, I felt Lucas Glover was going to get the nod - at least I did before his shocking back nine in the final round of the Wyndham Championship last month.

Having gone out in 29 he had the tournament in his grasp and appeared to be playing his way into Pavin's team. The 2009 US Open champion looked like coming into form at just the right time, but then it all went wrong.

He shot a back nine of 38 and he looked irritable, grumpy and out of sorts. His body language was terrible and Pavin wouldn't have wanted that sort of figure on his team. He has played poorly since then and didn't make the BMW Championship, so perhaps that back nine cost him his chances.

At that point I don't think Pavin would have made his mind up about Fowler, but I'm still surprised by his inclusion. Fowler's a bright, young kid with an abundance of talent and has had lots of good finishes - but he is yet to win on the PGA Tour. I think that's significant.

Rookie

Pavin's team already has a few rookies on it, so it's very interesting that he has picked another one. People will point to the fact that the European team has six rookies on it, but in my eyes it is a misnomer to describe some of our players as "rookies".

Rory McIlroy is a rookie, but he's already a world-class player; Ross Fisher is a rookie, but he's already World Matchplay champion and a world top-20 golfer; Martin Kaymer is a rookie, but is one of the most prolific winners in the game and now a major champion.

They are all new to the Ryder Cup, but they are not rookies in the usual sense of the word. That contrasts to Fowler, who has never crossed the line to win a PGA Tour event.

Obviously Pavin is a fan of the way Fowler plays the game. He plays with a great spirit, he has a wonderful demeanour on the course and handles himself well in the media. He has an utterly different attitude to Glover and maybe that's why Pavin went for him.

Pavin has placed a huge responsibility on the young man's shoulders and maybe he sees him as a youthful, dynamic partner for someone like Woods; who knows?

It's a big shout to pick another rookie. We'll see if it was the right decision when we get to Celtic Manor.

Strong

Looking at the two teams, Colin Montgomerie's side looks extremely strong.

Perhaps the weakest link on the European side, in terms of form, is Padraig Harrington and it was a big shout to pick him over Paul Casey and Justin Rose. It would have taken an unbelievably strong captain to leave out a three-time major champion, but a case could be made for the other two.

Casey's game has improved and Rose would have been the perfect partner for Ian Poulter after a great season. There were reasons to leave Harrington out.

But Harrington's a grinder, a great scrambler and he'll always give 100 per cent. It can be frustrating to play somebody in match play who is chipping and putting all the time.

People used to hate playing Walter Hagen because his game was all over the place, yet he'd still make pars and birdies. He'd grind people down because they thought he was shooting 80 when he was shooting 68.

So Harrington will be an asset and if he's the weakest player then our team is in fantastic shape.

Ours is a team of winners. Peter Hanson has won twice this year; Francesco Molinari has been in tremendous form; Miguel Angel Jimenez is the only three-time winner on the European Tour and Ross Fisher found an amazing win in Ireland when he needed to.

And then Edoardo Molinari produced one of the greatest performances in the history of the European Tour to force Monty's hand at Gleneagles. He produced three birdies under the most severe pressure to make sure he got in ahead of Casey and Rose.

I haven't even mentioned Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter or Lee Westwood yet and they are all class players. There is a question mark over Westwood's fitness, but otherwise we are looking in great shape.

I'm so excited. I can't wait for October 1.