GOLF:TIGER WOODS has said he's considering playing in a PGA Tour Fall Series event later this year in a bid to justify his selection for the Presidents Cup team competition in November.

The former world number one is eager to take part in the Ryder Cup-style Presidents Cup in Australia from November 17th-20th, but has been advised by United States captain Fred Couples to get more tournaments under his belt before then.

Meanwhile, American Ryder Cup player JB Holmes is to undergo brain surgery next week.

Holmes, part of the winning team in Louisville three years ago, has been suffering from vertigo-like symptoms since May and was recently diagnosed with Chiari malformations, a structural defect in the cerebellum.

“I know when people hear ‘brain surgery’ it conjures up all kinds of images, but this a relatively low-risk surgery and only takes about an hour and a half,” Holmes told the PGA Tour website after withdrawing from the FedEx Cup play-offs starting this week in New Jersey.

“Best of all, there’s a very high success rate in fixing the condition. It’s just such a relief to know that there’s a name for what I’ve been going through these past few months and that I have a good chance of getting back to golf and to my regular life.”

He hopes to return to competition in three months.

Ryder Cup hero and former US Open champion Graeme McDowell launched his Foundation in New York last night with the aim of supporting children’s medical research in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United States.

McDowell also plans to give children a holiday of a lifetime in Florida. The 32-year-old has been a long-term supporter of multiple sclerosis charities, a cause given extra significance to him as his mother is a sufferer.

“I’m delighted to now have my own ‘G-Mac Foundation’ to channel any funds I raise,” he said . . . It’s going to be my way of giving something back.”