brettig
New Yorker
Woods downplays Ryder Cup after 65
Associated Press
THOMASTOWN, Ireland (Sept. 19) -- No one can accuse Tiger Woods of looking ahead to next week's Ryder Cup.
Woods birdied the last two holes Thursday for a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the American Express Championship, a tournament he said means more to him than winning that little exhibition next week at The Belfry.
Asked which was more important, Woods chose an individual title and the $1 million check over a team victory and a 14-inch gold chalice.
"Why? I can think of a million reasons," Woods said.
Woods has never had much success in the Ryder Cup, going 3-6-1. Earlier this week, he complained that the team concept doesn't allow him to prepare for the matches the way he would any other big tournament.
And he made it clear after setting his bogey-free 65 at Mount Juliet that his focus is squarely on winning his sixth tournament of the year, and a World Golf Championship event for the fourth straight season.
"This is a big event. These are the best players in the world," he said. "You're playing stroke play on a great golf course. That's pretty important. I'm not saying the Ryder is not important. It's a completely different animal.
"You can play absolutely lousy and the team can win, or you can play absolutely great and win all five matches, and lose the Ryder Cup."
It was blunt assessment about the Ryder Cup, one sure to delight the British tabloids.
The Americans already are perceived as 12 money-hungry individuals instead of one team, especially after the great debate over Ryder Cup revenues in 1999.
And Woods isn't hurting for money. His endorsements pay him about $60 million a year. He gets more than $2 million just for showing up at most tournaments overseas, and his PGA Tour earnings have already surpassed $31 million.
Woods said he enjoys the Ryder Cup when the matches are played from Friday to Sunday, but he doesn't like the galas and black-tie dinners. The Ryder Cup has never been a top priority for him.
Woods said he was disappointed by his performance at Valderrama in the '97 matches, when he went 1-3-1 and lost to former factory worker Costantino Rocca in singles as Europe retained the Ryder Cup.
"I think everyone who loses points is going to feel responsible," he said.
How would he feel if he lost all five of his matches next week at The Belfry, and the United States still won the precious gold cup?
"Again, disappointed, because I wasn't able to contribute to the effort," Woods said. "But I would be proud of my teammates for playing as well as they did if I was 0-5."
The feeling wasn't mutual. Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland said he would gladly trade a victory and dlrs 1 million this week for Europe to win the Ryder Cup.
"There are more chances for winning World Golf Championship events than Ryder Cups," Clarke said.
Associated Press
THOMASTOWN, Ireland (Sept. 19) -- No one can accuse Tiger Woods of looking ahead to next week's Ryder Cup.
Woods birdied the last two holes Thursday for a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the American Express Championship, a tournament he said means more to him than winning that little exhibition next week at The Belfry.
Asked which was more important, Woods chose an individual title and the $1 million check over a team victory and a 14-inch gold chalice.
"Why? I can think of a million reasons," Woods said.
Woods has never had much success in the Ryder Cup, going 3-6-1. Earlier this week, he complained that the team concept doesn't allow him to prepare for the matches the way he would any other big tournament.
And he made it clear after setting his bogey-free 65 at Mount Juliet that his focus is squarely on winning his sixth tournament of the year, and a World Golf Championship event for the fourth straight season.
"This is a big event. These are the best players in the world," he said. "You're playing stroke play on a great golf course. That's pretty important. I'm not saying the Ryder is not important. It's a completely different animal.
"You can play absolutely lousy and the team can win, or you can play absolutely great and win all five matches, and lose the Ryder Cup."
It was blunt assessment about the Ryder Cup, one sure to delight the British tabloids.
The Americans already are perceived as 12 money-hungry individuals instead of one team, especially after the great debate over Ryder Cup revenues in 1999.
And Woods isn't hurting for money. His endorsements pay him about $60 million a year. He gets more than $2 million just for showing up at most tournaments overseas, and his PGA Tour earnings have already surpassed $31 million.
Woods said he enjoys the Ryder Cup when the matches are played from Friday to Sunday, but he doesn't like the galas and black-tie dinners. The Ryder Cup has never been a top priority for him.
Woods said he was disappointed by his performance at Valderrama in the '97 matches, when he went 1-3-1 and lost to former factory worker Costantino Rocca in singles as Europe retained the Ryder Cup.
"I think everyone who loses points is going to feel responsible," he said.
How would he feel if he lost all five of his matches next week at The Belfry, and the United States still won the precious gold cup?
"Again, disappointed, because I wasn't able to contribute to the effort," Woods said. "But I would be proud of my teammates for playing as well as they did if I was 0-5."
The feeling wasn't mutual. Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland said he would gladly trade a victory and dlrs 1 million this week for Europe to win the Ryder Cup.
"There are more chances for winning World Golf Championship events than Ryder Cups," Clarke said.
