Woods will still be a force – Pavin

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US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin admits he was “very shocked, very surprised” by the ‘Tigergate’ revelations.

American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, in London on Friday to collect an award, admits he was “very shocked, very surprised” when Tiger Woods’ private life became the talk of golf.
Like everyone else, Pavin is now waiting to see how long the world number one’s indefinite break lasts, but he believes that on his return Woods could well be the same force he was – and hopes that includes at October’s Ryder Cup match against Europe at Celtic Manor in Wales.
Pavin, the first non-European to receive the Professional Golfers’ Association annual Recognition Award for services to golf, said: “Who knows how long his leave will be.
“My main concern is for his family. My view of him as a golfer is not going to change at all and my view of him as a human being is not going to change either.
“Everybody makes mistakes. I’m not going to sit here in judgment – I am the last guy in the world to do that.
“I just hope things work out for him and Elin. It’s obviously an emotional time for him, but I think he’s going to be fine.
“Tiger’s obviously a very strong-minded individual and I don’t think he will play any differently when he comes back. He’s come back from injuries and setbacks (Woods’ father died in 2006) and done fine.”
America won without Woods at Valhalla last year, but Pavin added: “To not have the best player in the world weakens the team.
“That does not mean we can’t win without him because obviously we did last time, but you always want the best player in the world.”

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