Steve Stricker hopes to have Tiger Woods on his backroom staff for Ryder Cup

United States captain Steve Stricker hopes to have Tiger Woods as part of his backroom staff for September’s Ryder Cup.
Woods underwent surgery on open fractures to his lower right leg and further injuries to his foot and ankle following a single-vehicle crash in Los Angeles in February.
The 15-time major winner, who was found to be driving at twice the legal speed limit when he crashed, is recovering at home in Florida and recently posted a picture of himself on Instagram standing on crutches.
Tiger Woods posts photo of himself using crutches weeks after horrific crash https://t.co/ZnOvpBarRw pic.twitter.com/M4YhZU2s9H
— New York Post (@nypost) April 23, 2021
Asked ahead of the US PGA Championship if he wanted his former partner to be a vice-captain at Whistling Straits, Stricker said: “I’ve talked to him. I don’t know if we are there yet to commit to him being there.
“He’s still got a lot going on and his spirits are great, though, as of late. We were on a Zoom call with him just this last week and he seems like he’s in a better place. Like I said, though, he’s still got some ways to go.
“But yeah, I’d love to have him there. Who wouldn’t, right? The guys really respect him and he did a great job obviously as a captain (in the 2019 Presidents Cup) but he was an assistant captain of mine in 2017 and he was unbelievable.
“He would do anything for you and he’s totally, totally vested in the situation and the process and almost to the point of he’s on it early and so much it’s like, ‘Dude, we’ve still got months to go yet’.

“He’s really good at being an assistant and I’d love to have him be there if it’s at all possible.”
Woods has a poor playing record in the Ryder Cup, winning 13, losing 21 and halving three of his matches, most recently losing all four matches in the 2018 contest in Paris.
The 45-year-old was often felt not to care about the team event as he pursued individual glory, particularly early in his career, but Stricker added: “I think the earlier perception was a bit unfair, although he’s a difficult guy to pair with, I think.
“I can say that because I was his partner and we had a great partnership.

“But he’s the best player in the world and his partner has to be… I don’t know what the word is, you have to be OK with playing with the best player in the game and there’s some expectation put on as his partner.
“He’s always been this way on the teams I’ve been around, very into the whole team and the process.
“As assistant captain, it’s almost like he’s taken it up a notch. He is all-in with everybody and the players love it. They love being around him and he adds a tremendous amount when he is there.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg
-
PGA Tour
Lee Kyoung-Hoon shoots his lowest round on the tour to retain Texas title
Dallas-born Jordan Spieth went close with a chip for eagle on the 18th which would have forced a play-off.
-
European Tour
Sam Horsfield ‘so happy’ after winning Soudal Open to secure another title
Horsfield overcame overnight leader Ryan Fox in a thrilling final-round battle.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Rose still has drive to succeed as ‘exciting challenge’ of US PGA arrives
Rose won the US Open in 2013 and Olympic gold in Rio three years later, but has not tasted victory since February 2019.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods will expect to do better at US PGA Championship – Curtis Strange
Woods returned to top-level action after a long injury absence with a 47th-placed finished at the Masters.
-
PGA Championship
Defending champion Phil Mickelson withdraws from US PGA Championship
The six-time major winner has been taking a break from golf.
-
PGA Tour
English rookie David Skinns shares lead in Texas
The 40-year-old from Lincoln shot a second-round 63 in the AT&T Byron Nelson.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth looking for career grand slam at US PGA Championship
The presence or absence of defending champion Phil Mickelson which will dominate the conversation at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
5 contenders to win the US PGA Championship
Tiger Woods could contend for victory in Tulsa.
-
News
We’ve got your back – Greg Norman promises to defend players on breakaway tour
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are among the professionals to have asked for the required release to play the first event at Centurion Club.