Unlike all the falderal surrounding the Freddie Couples naming Tiger Woods to last year’s President Cup squad, there is no doubt that Tiger earned his way on to this team. The ranking numbers that are used have to be adhered to, however, that does not mean an automatic requirement to play Tiger each and every time out.  Please consider this:

Tiger has an excellent “Singles” record and there is no doubt that he does, indeed, boast the best personal record of all the USA squad members when playing alone.  

On the other hand, Tiger has, arguably the worst “Foursomes” record of anyone on the squad at 4-7-1. His “Fourball” record, while not being the worst of the squad, it is certainly not stellar at 5-6-0.  

Back when we were in elementary school, and it was “in vogue” for teachers to be honest about making constructive comments on report cards, very often a child was observed as “does not play well with others.” Well, I believe that this would be quite accurate for Tiger. 

We have all seen and heard reports about how Earl Woods would train his son to be tough ... to maintain his concentration ... to be solitary in his approach to his game. That training has paid the premiums of a wonderful personal career for Tiger, but it has not made him a good team player, and to recall the old axiom, it is because there is no “I” in “TEAM.” 

As a member of an accumulation of players who are called on to perform individually, Tiger is exactly what Earl Woods envisioned, but when he is called on to “ham-and-egg” as part of that overall competition, Tiger is not responsible for a win or tie in at least half of his matches with a partner.

Now, when the Captain’s Picks were announced, everyone pretty much presumed that Davis Love III chose Steve Stricker because of his seeming ability to play with Tiger. I agree. On the other hand, I think that Steve might be better used being paired with one of the four kids who have never had to endure the extreme pressures of a Ryder Cup, let alone one in the heartland of America. 

It is no sin to sit Tiger. He is not the intimidating presence he once was, certainly not to many of these young men on both sides.  It would be wrong for any other player to be forced into compensating for Tiger’s inconsistent game of late ... AND ... his statistical predilection for “not playing well with others.”