Woods on Presidents Cup Team


Despite backtracking on his earlier promise that Tiger Woods would be on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, saying last week that Woods would need to play more tournaments before the biennial competition, Fred Couples announced Thursday that Woods will indeed be one of his two captain's selections on the American squad.

"I've told him that he's going to be on the team," Couples said Thursday just before a practice round at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, east of Couples' hometown of Seattle.

Couples made the announcement Thursday at the site of this week's Champions Tour event, the Boeing Classic, which starts Friday.

The Presidents Cup, which pits the USA against the International (non-European) team, will be held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia November 14-20.

Ten players automatically qualify for the squad based on points accumulated over the past two years. Couples has two captain's picks to complete the 12-member team.

Just last week Couples commented, "For him to play, I think he needs to play a little bit. He just can't show up the week before in Australia." Couples made his remarks August 17 on the eve of the Senior Players Championship in Harrison, N.Y., which he won for his first-ever major title on the senior circuit.

Earlier this week, Woods said he was looking to play other tournaments, possibly including one or more of the PGA Tour's four-event Fall Series, prior to the Presidents Cup. He's already committed to play in the Australian Open in Sydney.

That tournament will be held the week prior to the Presidents Cup at The Australian Golf Club.

"I might add another PGA Tour event to my schedule," he said on his website, www.tigerwoods.com. "Right now, I'm looking at my options."