Golf News: Tiger - I was lucky to get pick

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Tiger - I was lucky to get pick

Last Updated: November 3, 2011 12:17pm

Tiger Woods: Got the nod from Fred Couples and wants to repay faith

Tiger Woods is determined to justify his place on the USA's Presidents Cup team after admitting he was "lucky" to have been awarded a wildcard.

The 14-time major winner was controversially guaranteed a place by USA captain Fred Couples despite his lack of competitive golf and general poor play this year.

Woods has tumbled to 56th in the world rankings, but he is confident of helping his side retain the trophy against Greg Norman's Internationals at Royal Melbourne in a fortnight.

"I have been playing a ton of golf at home, getting my playing instincts back, something I hadn't done all summer as I have obviously been injured."
Tiger Woods on Presidents Cup prep Quotes of the week

"I'm honoured to be picked," said Woods. "Freddie had plenty of different candidates he could have chosen, so I'm lucky to be on the team.

"I know I have got four starts guaranteed and I'm looking forward to seeing who is going to be my partner and then obviously gelling and hopefully winning our matches.

"I have been playing a ton of golf at home, getting my playing instincts back, something I hadn't done all summer as I have obviously been injured.

"Now I'm healthy, playing again, playing more and playing consistently so I'm looking forward to the end of this year."

The decision to pick Woods was brought into sharper focus after the opening round of the WGC-HSBC Champions on Thursday.

By choosing Tiger, Couples left himself just one wildcard pick and by siding with FedEx Cup winner Bill Haas it meant he left out USPGA champion Keegan Bradley.

Since the decision Bradley has gone on to win the Grand Slam of Golf in a four-way showdown with the year's other major winners and he now leads the HSBC Champions after a sparkling first round 65.