Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Day cautious on Tiger's selection

Updated October 27, 2011 16:35:42

Australia's top golfer Jason Day admits the selection of Tiger Woods in the US Presidents Cup team is a "touchy subject".

Woods' early selection by US captain Fred Couples, who overlooked new USPGA champion Keegan Bradley, has raised eyebrows.

Couples has been questioned about his decision due to Woods' lack of form, injuries and recent fall from the world's top 50.

But world number seven Day said Couples was faced with a dilemma.

"Tiger has dominated the game for a good 10 years," he said on Thursday.

"It's hard not to pick him.

"They have a two-year period (between Presidents Cups) to pick the teams.

"Keegan has won a tournament and a major and it's his rookie year. If they picked him, it would be a great addition to the team.

"It's very hard not to pick Tiger Woods because of what he's done in the past, obviously winning 73 PGA Tour events, 14 majors. It's kind of hard to go, 'okay Tiger, you're not on the team'.

"It's kind of a touchy subject. Whether it's Keegan or Tiger, we still have to beat that person. I think as a team, we've got to keep playing one shot at the same time and try to beat the person in front of us."

No pressure

Day was the automatic first selection for the international team for the Cup to be played at Royal Melbourne next month, but said he did not feel extra pressure to perform.

"You know what, it's great that I achieved the number one spot but, no, it doesn't (create extra pressure)," he said.

"The team that we're playing for, it's not an individual kind of event. It's more about the teamwork, getting the job done with team-mates.

"I'm just out there trying to do the best job I can. If I can play golf the way I know I can play, kind of help my team out any way that I can possibly, that's all I'm asking for."

Day said he told international team captain Greg Norman that he and his team-mates were desperate to win at Royal Melbourne.

"I talked to him after I made the team," he said.

"We were kind of getting along the lines of we really want to win one, take it home, hold onto it for a couple years.

"It's been a while. I think our whole team is very hungry to go down there and perform.

"We have a unique team, a lot of young guys, a lot of old guys. I think hopefully we can kind of all mix in together and play as one and try and win this thing."

Day and Korean Kyung-tae Kim will be making their debut in the Presidents Cup while South African Ernie Els will be playing his seventh and Victorian Robert Allenby his sixth.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 27, 2011 16:35:42


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