I think anyone who has followed golf over the last decade or so understands how differently this frames the event. Golf really is better when Tiger is good, and that’s saying a lot, because Reed and Rory a couple years ago were spectacular.

 

What are you expecting, or maybe hoping, to see from him and the Americans?

It would be hard to imagine Tiger being any different in the Ryder cup than he's been on tour. Sure it would be a great story, but I'm expecting a lot of anticipation and not much follow up.

I hope we don't need to count on a putt from Tiger to win the whole thing. I'm sure Furyk won't put him in that position.

How many golfers are on the team? Tiger is currently the #14 ranked player in the USA - and that is with getting a late start on the season. Who was left off the team that should be on it instead of Tiger?

How many golfers are on the team? Tiger is currently the #14 ranked player in the USA - and that is with getting a late start on the season. Who was left off the team that should be on it instead of Tiger?

They said this morning on Mike and Mike that the first 8 are auto qualifiers then the captain gets 4 picks. He made 3 of those yesterday...DeChambeau, Tiger, and Phil. They said those were the next 3 in rankings that didn't auto qualify.

How many golfers are on the team? Tiger is currently the #14 ranked player in the USA - and that is with getting a late start on the season. Who was left off the team that should be on it instead of Tiger?

Just looked it up and DeChambeau was 9th, Phil at 10th, and Tiger at 11th. So at this point no one has been skipped.

Even at his best, Tiger was a so so Ryder Cup participant.

 

Hopefully he'll play well, I'd love to see him win a few key points for the US.

Exactly, Tiger seemed to always struggle during the Ryder Cup.

This Ryder Cup is going to be REALLY good. It was going to be great before Tiger was picked but he makes it must watch TV. Every player ranked in the top 10 in the world is in it. I think Tiger and DeChambeau will be paired together in four ball (better ball) as they have forged a really nice relationship. I doubt Tiger plays 36 both of the first two days and may not either day to keep him fresh (this team is so deep, he does not need to play all five sessions like he has had to in some past Ryder Cups). This may be the best US team ever (certainly one of the best) but the Euros have an incredible team too and are at home. The US has not won in Europe in at least 25 years...cannot watch to see this one...

One more thing about Tiger. I am not sure a lot of people know how UNBELIEVEABLE this past year has been for Tiger. He literally could barely walk at the Presidents Cup a year ago. To go from where he was to where he is now (from ranked 600+ in the world to 20 something) in one year is just mind blowing. I think he is even shocked by it. He will never be the old Tiger because guys in their 40's don't putt like they did in their 20's and early 30's. They just don't. I always thought Tiger was the best 5-15 foot putter in history in his prime. He is not great at that distance any longer and I don't know if he ever will be again.

Even at his best, Tiger was a so so Ryder Cup participant.

 

Hopefully he'll play well, I'd love to see him win a few key points for the US.

 

I think Tiger thrives on being the best at a solo sport where it’s on him to determine the outcome. When others can affect his results, that doesn’t set well with him. Again, I THINK...

Tiger was a point of discussion at the 18th annual wiffleball League last weekend and I think the 25ish of us reached an agreement that you don’t get Rory/Reed ‘16 without Tiger late 90s/early aughts. He’s done so much for the game that I had to stop following golf digest across all platforms because of the “why should we care about Tiger” crowd.

 

To lump all internet users into one big stereotype, we find it fashionable to disregard any and all transcendent figures. Maybe Tiger doesn’t transcend golf, I don’t know, but I wasn’t playing before him, and I damn sure wasn’t watching before him...

 

The game has him solely to thank for large viewership and huge payouts, yet he’s “just another guy” to the hardcore fans at this point, because they were all looking to Rory/Rickie/Speith/whoever to take his spot, and it can’t be claimed. Nobody can fill those Nikes.

 

As you can guess, I’m jacked up for this year’s event.

I’m watching Tiger right now as he’s playing the last few holes in the final round of the BMW. Most of his game is back, especially his irons. But the one part that seems to be not up to par with the old Tiger is his putting. He needed a 10 footer for an urgent par on the 14th to remain 1 down but missed it left. Then he missed another 10 footer for a birdie on the next hole, birdied the next hole but then missed a 12 footer for birdie on number 17. In the past he literally willed those putts into the cup. -19 is leading and he should actually be tied right now but going to come up a little short. But he’s still had a great year with a lot of top 10 finishes and s spot on the Ryder Cup team.

Good comment by one of the announcers, Tiger at 18 or 19 under in his prime would have been good enough to win this week. The difference is there are so many really good golfers that came into the game in the last decade, that grew up idolizing Tiger...but they don't fear him the way golfers did 10 to 15 years ago.

Good comment by one of the announcers, Tiger at 18 or 19 under in his prime would have been good enough to win this week. The difference is there are so many really good golfers that came into the game in the last decade, that grew up idolizing Tiger...but they don't fear him the way golfers did 10 to 15 years ago.

That’s a very good point. The field is packed with good young golfers who grew up watching Tiger’s game.