Tiger 'amazingly involved' as Ryder Cup vice captain
Tiger Woods won't be playing at Hazeltine National, but he's doing his part.
U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Davis Love III said Tuesday that Woods has "been amazingly involved," writes ESPN's Bob Harig. "He's been very thoughtful in the way that he's handled the Tiger Woods factor of being an influence, but also being a distraction."
Woods is recovering from back surgery, but as Harig writes, there's nothing ceremonial about Woods' Ryder Cup responsibilities.
"I am so happy to see how well thought through he has been," Phil Mickelson said. "I can't believe our conversations, how detail oriented he has been. The players, the pairings, the possibilities."
Woods is playing a central role in determining team groupings, as the U.S. is looking to win its first Ryder Cup since 2008 and employing the pod-like system it did at Valhalla Golf Club.
Tuesday's practice groupings:
- Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth
- Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker
- J.B. Holmes, Brooks Koepka, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker
"(Woods has) just been willing to do anything we ask," Love said.