Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler
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Tiger Woods was among four players selected by Corey Pavin to round out the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team Tuesday morning.
Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler were the other captain's picks who will join Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar, who all qualified for the team based on points accumulated over a two-year period.
Among those who were under consideration but did not make the team this time around were Anthony Kim, Ben Crane, Lucas Glover and Nick Watney.
In the final tournament before Pavin's picks, none of the 14 players on the captain's short list finished among the top 10. According to people with knowledge of the decision, the final selection came down to Fowler and big-hitting J.B. Holmes, who tied for 11th at the TPC Boston.
"It came down to feelings. I have a gut feeling about Rickie," said Pavin. "He has a good (Walker Cup) record... He's a very good player."
The Americans take on Europe at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales from Oct. 1-3.
The European team, selected by captain Colin Montgomery, consists of Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, Peter Hanson, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, PGA champion Martin Kayer, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jimenez and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
Montgomerie said Pavin used his four picks "to good effect."
"Like my European team, the American side has an excellent blend of youthful talent alongside some seasoned Ryder Cup campaigners, and I am delighted to see Tiger Woods amongst Corey's selections," he said. "The Ryder Cup is a better event with him in it."
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Prior to 2008, Europe had won five of the last six Ryder Cup matches, including three in a row. Since 1985, Europe holds a 4-1-1 record when the Ryder Cup is played in Europe. You have to go back to 1993 to find the last time the American's won the trophy on foreign soil.
Woods will make his sixth appearance in the tournament, his first since 2006. A knee injury kept him off the 2008 team.
"It's great to be a part of this team," said Woods. "I'm honored to be selected and head over to Wales to represent the USA in the Ryder Cup."
"A couple of months ago I was trying to make the team on points, but I didn't. The last two events I played, I played much better and here we are. I think my game is not that far away."
How the crowds at Celtic Manor treat Woods has been the subject of much debate. Given his personal problems and marital situation over the course of the last year, the European crowds will have a lot of fodder in what has become an emotionally charged partisan event.
"On the road ... you get booed a lot, you get jeered and people say things they shouldn't say," Woods told reporters on Sunday. "It comes from both sides. They (the Americans) did it with Monty (Colin Montgomerie), so it goes both ways, and I've had that experience and understand how to deal with it and make it a positive thing."
Woods finished 12th on the points list and for the first time in his career was not an automatic pick for the team. His performance in 11 PGA Tour events sparked debate as to whether or not he should even be included on the team. While he has yet to put together four solid rounds of golf, his play through the first two FedEx Cup playoff events certainly did more to guarantee his selection than dissuade Pavin from taking him.
In 25 career Ryder Cup matches, Woods sports a 10-13-2 record, accounting for 11 total points. While he owns a losing record in the fourball and foursomes events, he is 3-1-1 in head-to-head singles and hasn't lost a singles match since 1997.
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Zach Johnson makes his second Ryder Cup appearance, his first since 2006. He was part of the U.S. team which suffered one of the worst defeats to Europe in the history of the event that year.
"I'm thrilled and excited beyond belief," said Johnson, the only one of Pavin's picks to win a tournament his year. "Having your nation's flag on your sleeve makes it that much more special."
Cink will be making his fifth Ryder Cup appearance. He owns a 4-7-4 record in 15 matches. However, with five rookies on the team, he will be counted on for his leadership and experience. Along with Mickelson, Furyk and Woods, they have 24 Ryder Cup appearances among them.
Fowler will join Ryder Cup first timers Watson, Johnson, Overton and Kuchar however he is the first PGA Tour rookie to make the team. The 21-year-old has three runner-up finishes in his 11 months as a pro.
"It was hard to sleep last night but this is awesome to be selected," he said. "I have to thank Corey for giving me the opportunity to go over there, being a young player, it is a pretty special opportunity."