Woods not certain to be a hit if picked for the Ryder Cup

Although it is widely assumed that Tiger Woods is a banker to be named as one of four wildcards to make up the USA team for the Ryder Cup, there are some strong arguments why the world number one may not be worthy of a spot on the team.

USA captain Corey Pavin already knows eight of the 12 players to make up his team, which are 15/8 to win the Ryder Cup, with Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker among the leading names to secure a spot through the Ryder Cup points race.

However, Woods did not make the team through this means, alongside a number of other talents including Anthony Kim, Rickie Fowler and Lucas Glover.

He now has to rely on being hand-picked by Pavin, which is no formality.

Woods was recovering from knee reconstructive surgery two years ago as the USA team strolled to a 16.5 to 11.5 victory under the stewardship of Paul Azinger, which was their first win in four attempts.

Meanwhile, the fact that the event is taking place in Europe may lead to Woods getting a vast amount of stick and abuse for the stories that have broken about his private life in the past year.

Dealing with the outcome of which has had a major impact on his form, including when slumping to the worst tournament performance of his career at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational earlier this month.

All aspects of his game, particularly shots with his driver and irons, improved at the US PGA Championship, but he still seemed far short of the level that he has lived up to for a large portion of this century.

Furthermore, the likes of Fowler, JB Holmes and Sean O’Hair have shown far better form than Woods in 2010 and are much more likely to perform to their typical standard when the event gets underway at Celtic Manor in Wales on October 1st.

Colin Montgomerie’s Europe are 8/15 to win back the Ryder Cup in Wales this year, with Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter among the players to have secured spots on the team.