World number one Jordan Spieth has expressed his belief that the appointment of Tiger Woods as a vice-captain will be a "huge intimidation" advantage for the US Ryder Cup team as they seek to win the trophy for the first time since 2008.
The two-time Major winner also expects Woods to qualify automatically for Hazeltine in 2016 despite uncertainty over his return to competition after a second back operation. |
| Jordan Spieth sees Tiger Woods as `intimidation` edge at Ryder Cup |
"I am also of the opinion that Tiger will be on the team whether he qualifies automatically or as a captain`s pick.
"I was speaking with Tiger recently and while he`s been appointed a vice-captain, he told me he`s going to make that Hazeltine team, so I hope he does."
With Spieth absent from competition for three weeks, the 22-year old Texan was commenting publicly for the first time on US captain Davis Love`s recent appointment of additional vice-captains Woods, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker.
"It`s a great decision on Davis`s part selecting Tiger and I don`t see any downside to it at all," Spieth said.
"It maybe is a bit unusual having five vice-captains but given I am not on the committee that was formed, they do have a plan and the plan is to have five vice-captains.
"So I will follow the plan and with an additional vice-captain I do feel this next Ryder Cup could be a more laid back atmosphere."
And Spieth sees no problems for the team should any of the vice-captains qualify automatically to play.
"While we`re not real sure about Tiger and Strick (Stricker) you would have to think Jim (Furyk) could still qualify for the team, but then I don`t have a problem with that," he said.
"That wouldn`t hurt the team and I don`t think it would make much of a difference because if any of the vice-captains such as he and Tiger did make the team they would still be strong leaders out on the golf course."
Next year`s Ryder Cup will be played September 30-October 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in suburban Minneapolis.
The Americans lead the all-time rivalry 25-13 with two draws, but the Europeans have won three in a row, six of the past seven and eight of the past 10.
