I want Tiger in US team, says Captain Clarke
- Feb 23, 2015
- 2 min read
Europe's new captain Darren Clarke says he is relishing the prospect of Tiger Woods being fit again to play for the US at the 2016 Ryder Cup.
Clarke is a friend of Woods, who is taking an "indefinite break" from the game ahead of the Masters, and the Northern Irishman hopes he will be back to full fitness when the 41st edition of the biennial competition tees off at Hazeltine.
"Tiger is still one of the biggest draws in the game of golf," Clarke told The Guardian.
"He is a very special talent. I, for one, being not only a friend of his but having a huge amount of respect for his golf game, would love to see him getting back to playing the sort of golf that he can play.
"It would be a stronger team with him being on it. You want to go and compete against the strongest team possible and a healthy Tiger Woods playing his best golf would certainly add to the whole event."
Despite Clarke's views, Woods' Ryder Cup form reads 13 wins, 14 defeats and two halved matches in six appearances.
Clarke edged out competition from Miguel Angel Jimenez for the vote of the five-man panel, which included former captains Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie. But crucial to Clarke's bid was the backing of many high-profile players - notably Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.
"Obviously I appreciate it an awful lot, that those guys were supporting me and have the trust in me to be their captain," he added. "Without their help, would I be talking to you now? I don't know, maybe yes, maybe no.
"But the fact that they did come out and publicly support me means an awful lot to me. Hopefully I'll be able to repay them in any small way that I can when I'm captain."
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