McIlroy wants crack at struggling Woods

Pow Salud August 22, 2010

BY WEB STAFF

sportsnet.ca

If Tiger Woods is chosen as a wild card for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy says there's a dozen Europeans who would fancy their chances against the struggling world No. 1.

When asked if he would like his chances against Woods in a Sunday singles match in the biennial event this October 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales, the 21-year-old phenom was unequivocal.

"Yeah, I would," he told BBC Sports. "I would love to face him. Unless (Woods's) game rapidly improves in the next month or so, I think anyone in the European team would fancy his chances against him."

Woods failed to qualify among the top eight points earners at the conclusion of the PGA Championship and thereby earn an automatic spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

U.S. captain Corey Pavin has four captain's picks at his disposal and it is widely expected he will use one to select Woods when he makes his selections Sept. 7.

McIlroy-who currently shares the cover of EA Sports' Tiger Woods 2011 video game with Woods-was the second-leading points earner for the European team behind Lee Westwood and has risen to a career-high seventh in the world rankings on the heels of back-to-back third place finishes in the past two majors.

In the past when fellow players have made critical comments about him or the state of his game-see Rory Sabbatini or Stephen Ames-Woods has let his clubs do the talking.

McIlroy doesn't seem too concerned however, and fully expects to see Woods in red, white and blue this October.

"There are a lot of Americans playing better than him at the minute, but it's always an advantage to have Tiger in your team," he said. "I think (Pavin) will pick him. I don't think it would go down too well in the States if he wasn't picked."

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