U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson has confirmed that Tiger Woods will not be with the team at Marco Simone this weekend. However, the eight-time Ryder Cup has played a part in the their tournament preparations and will continue encouraging the team from afar.
Last weekend, Woods, 47, was caddying for his teenage son, Charlie, at the Last Chance Florida Regional Final. Footage from the tournament shows the 15-time major winner walking the course at the Mission Inn Resort & Club seemingly unaided.
He has not played professionally since withdrawing midway through the Masters in early April after re-aggravating his plantar fasciitis. Later that month, Woods had subtalar fusion surgery addressing post-traumatic arthritis affecting the talus fracture he sustained to his ankle during his 2021 car crash.
The former world No.1 has played in only five tournaments since sustaining multiple injuries in that crash. However, the U.S. Team has leaned on his wealth of experience while preparing to win back the Ryder Cup.
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At a captain’s press conference in Rome, Johnson explained that Woods would not be joining them in Italy as “he’s got a lot on his plate.” Despite that, the tournament veteran has already shown his support during recent weeks and months.
“As far as conferring with him, communicating with him, I mean, we have up to this point, and he is one of — he understands that now that our feet are on the ground, it’s probably kind of best that we navigate this ourselves,” the U.S. captain said.
“But he’s always on the inner corner, and at this point, it’s more encouragement on his side, whether he’s texting the guys or texting the vice captains and captains, he’s there to encourage because he’s very invested in what we do year-in and year-out with Team USA, and that has never ceased, and I’m grateful for that.
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“I mean, he’s the best player of our generation. Thankfully, he’s an American.
“We are going to utilize his knowledge and his wisdom and his candor and his passion the best we can.
When it comes to the week of the tournament if you’re not in on it and inside the team room, inside the ropes, shoulder-to-shoulder with these guys, it’s not fair to ask him questions. It’s probably — he can give us insights, don’t get me wrong. At the same time, I don’t know if that’s proper, and I think he would understand completely.”
Woods knows that better than almost anyone else. He has played 37 matches across eight tournaments spanning two decades.
Phil Mickelson (12) and Jim Furyk (nine) are the only Americans with more appearances at the biennial tournament. Woods also has captaincy experience, featuring as a playing vice-captain under Furyk in 2018.
That tournament at Le Golf National in France was his last appearance. He has now missed the two editions since due to injury.
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