Tiger back on Cup radar

Tiger Woods still hopes to play clearly in Melbourne in December.

Tiger Woods that played in Melbourne this year was off, then on and off again – now it might be on again.

The drama "will or will & # 39; t he" took a potentially positive turn for Australian golf fans today when the American Presidential Cup captain did not exclude playing at Royal Melbourne in December.

Woods said he would consult his assistants and players, but in the end the decision whether to choose himself as a player would fall on his own shoulders.

Woods was not one of the eight best automatic qualifiers for the biennial team event, but the Masters champion still has four leaders.

"My job as a captain is to put together the best possible team and put together the best 12 guys," Woods told a global teleconference today.

"That is what I am trying to do. We go through the entire process of open communication with our top eight boys and my vice captains.

“That is something we will certainly talk about, whether I have to play or not. Ultimately it will be my decision whether or not to play as the captain. But I want to have all their opinions before that decision is made. "

The 43-year-old season ended in the BMW championship of the weekend in Chicago after he did not reach the top 30 players who qualified for the Tour Championship, the tournament he won famously a year ago at East Lake Golf Club .

Woods played six more events this season after winning his 15th major at Augusta National. He had one top 10 in it, but missed two parts and withdrew from the recent Northern Trust with a slanted trunk.

He was not originally seen as a play option when he first accepted the role of captain, but his great end to 2018 and Masters glory left Woods to be himself & # 39; captain & # 39; declare in e-mails of the newsletter.

But that prospect was cooled by setbacks in recent months, and although he says that those who want to compete with a pick should stay sharp, Woods himself has dedicated only one event in the new season, in Japan from October 24-27, with his picks expect a week later.

The only previously playing captain in the Presidents Cup was Hale Irwin in the inaugural event in 1994. Others in line for a pick are Tony Finau, US Open champion Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Kevin Kisner, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth .

The four selections will join the American team at Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar and Bryson DeChambeau.

"We talked about how important it is to be committed to the team and to the event and to each other, and that means playing and being prepared," said Woods.

“The only time we've ever lost a Cup was in Australia (at Royal Melbourne in 1998), and to be honest, some guys didn't play much. It was our off-season, and we were pretty badly beaten.

“It is something that I try to strengthen the boys, that it is important to be solid, fresh and sharp because we go abroad and play against a great team, and it is on their ground. These guys will be hard to beat. So we look forward to the challenge. "

Woods said his own preparation would include practice and sideline matches with other professionals who live in his neighborhood in Florida.

“It's practicing, it's playing, it's staying sharp. Of course I play in Japan, so that will help, "Woods said about his own preparation.

“It has to do with many of my competitions that I'm going to hold here (in Florida). I will play here with many boys. They are going to get ready for some fall events, we have a few competitions, and that's always nice because we are able to talk about waste and have a great time and try to get each other in the pockets.

"That will be something I will certainly trust, and of course the event in Japan will be a big problem."

The US has a record of 10-1-1 in the Presidential Cup, but led by Ernie Els, the Internationals have vowed to use new tactics based on analysis to try to overthrow the American juggernaut.

Only Webb Simpson is in the US team in 2019 without a win. Only newcomer C.T. Pan has a victory among the Internationals in 2019.

But Woods does not allow complacency.

He hopes that most of his team will play in his Hero World Challenge on the Bahamas the week before he sets off for Melbourne.

"You have to look at the fact that it's being played there on the golf course, not on paper," Woods said.

“Over the years I have been part of a number of pretty amazing teams. We had a pretty solid team that went to Australia in & # 39; 98. We also had some pretty solid teams in Ryder Cups, and I almost lost them. It is set on the job. So that's something I told my players. "

– with Ben Everill, PGA Tour