Woods wants McIlroy

GOLF RYDER CUP 2010 COUNTDOWN:TIGER WOODS had heard all about Rory McIlroy's desire to face-up in the Ryder Cup, and the world's number one – alternating a stoical expression with one which revealed a wide, toothy grin at his one-and-only solo press conference ahead of the match – had two words of response when asked for a reaction to the Ulsterman's desire to play him.

“Me, too,” said Woods.

Game on, it seems.

For now, though, Woods – who missed the United States’ win over Europe at Valhalla in 2008 as he recuperated from knee surgery – has been immersing himself in the whole Ryder Cup experience and, as he must do these days, fending off questions about his life and his game.

Sometimes, as we discovered, the shorter answers provide the most clarity.

Yesterday, for instance, one voice from the masses dug a little too deeply for Tiger’s liking. “You don’t win majors any more. You don’t win regular tournaments any more. And you are about to be deposed by Europeans as the world number one, or (by) Phil Mickelson. Where is the Ryder Cup now on your agenda, now that you’re an ordinary golfer?”

Woods, rather than becoming the prey, turned things around.

“I remember, you’re the same one at the British Open who asked me that too. I hope you’re having a good week,” responded Woods, allowing a touch of a smile cross his face as he shifted his eyes elsewhere and indicated he was ready for the next question.

And the questions came thick and fast.

“Is this an emotionally more difficult week for you because of the prominent role that the wives tend to play at the Ryder Cup?” Answer – “I think it’ a great week, we are all looking forward to it.”

“Have you sensed any change in the players’ wives’ relationships towards you? Have they been supportive or have you sensed a cooling in that relationship? Answer – “No, we are here as a team. We’re here to win the Ryder Cup.”

“Is it safe to assume you’ll be with (Steve) Stricker, or do you even know yet at this point who your partner will be starting out?” Answer – “I have one out of 11, so we’ll see.”

What we did find out is that Woods, who missed out on the Tour Championship in Atlanta last weekend, has been working extensively with his new coach, Sean Foley, at home in Orlando.

“I have an understanding of what he was trying to teach and now it’s just a matter of getting reps. It’s not just hitting golf balls, he’s trying to make sure I understand the movements.

“The biggest thing is understanding the fixes. Out on the golf course today, I hit some bad ones. But I automatically knew what the fix was.

“That’s neat, because sometimes it takes a while to understand what the fix will be,” said Woods, who said he had improved “absolutely” since the low point of his season at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational when he was 18-over-par in finishing second-last in the field.

One thing was clear from yesterday, and that is the enthusiasm which Woods – so often perceived as an individual within a team in past Ryder Cups – holds for the task at hand.

“We just have to get it done,” said Woods. “No matter who you go out there with, it’s about holing shots and basically beating your opponent. There have been matches (in the Ryder Cup) where we were 10-under-par and lost. That’s just the way it goes, you’ve just got to get the job done. The captain does have a role in putting it together but it’s ultimately up to us in executing (it).”

Woods, who has been on only one winning team (at Brookline in 1999) since making his debut in the competition in 1997, also explained how he had changed his perception of the match compared to when he made his debut at Valderrama and confessed to finding it difficult operating in a team environment.

“It’s just because of the age. I was a pretty young guy, and I was usually the youngest player on the team for basically I think eight years. So there was a difference in age and, don’t forget, I came out of college and it was harder to relate because these guys were older than I was . . . as the years have gone by, now there’s quite a few guys who are younger than me on the team. I was candid earlier in my career because the guys were older.”

Now, Woods is just trying to blend in. To be one of the guys himself. To be part of a team.