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NEW YORK - World number one Tiger Woods was chosen by United States captain Corey Pavin as one of his four wildcard selections for the Ryder Cup against Europe next month.
Woods was named along with Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler for a clash against the European team on October 1-3 at Celtic Manor.
"I asked him (Woods) last night if he wanted to be part of the team and he said 'absolutely,'" Pavin said. "I am happy that he is very excited about playing and he wants to be on a winning team."
It will be the sixth Ryder Cup team for Woods, but the first one in which he needed a captain's pick to make it.
The 14-time major winner Woods had finished atop the Ryder Cup standings every time since his first team in 1997 - though he missed the 2008 victory as he was recovering from knee surgery. He has 71 victories on the PGA Tour but a poor record in the Ryder Cup.
"I always love playing in Ryder Cup, being part of the team," Woods said. "It is an experience you will never forget.
"It is one of those things I have been looking forward to. It is nice my game is coming around. I feel my game is not very far away. It makes it a lot easier going into a pressure-packed environment."
Woods and the three other wildcard picks will be joined by Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar.
While Woods' selection was not a surprise, Pavin's decision to pick Fowler was.
Fowler is the first PGA Tour rookie to make the American team. The 21-year-old has three runner-up finishes in his 11 months as a professional but had an excellent record as an amateur in the Walker Cup, winning seven of his eight matches.
The United States won the Ryder Cup two years ago at Valhalla and will be attempting in Wales to win for the first time overseas since 1993 at The Belfry.
- AFP/ir
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