Norman - Tiger must get a pick

Two-time Open champion expects Woods to make Pavin's side

Last updated: 7th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

His (Woods') ability with the 14 clubs in his bag speaks for itself so I think it's a logical choice for Corey. If he doesn't make it, he's (Pavin) got to stand up to some pretty tough questions.

Greg Norman
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RYDER CUP ANNOUNCEMENT
Watch Corey Pavin announce his four wildcard picks on Tuesday live on Sky Sports News at 3.30pm.

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Greg Norman has no doubts that US captain Corey Pavin will pick Tiger Woods for his Ryder Cup team.

Pavin announces his four wildcard picks on Tuesday afternoon - which you can watch live on Sky Sports News from 3.30pm - and world number one Woods is amongst those waiting to find out if he'll be competing at Celtic Manor.

Two-time Open champion Norman has no doubt Woods will be named in the American team, insisting Pavin would be hanging himself out to dry should he ignore him.

"You couldn't leave him off the team," Norman told Sky Sports News. "Just look at what happened at the Presidents Cup last year in San Francisco, what did he go, 5 and 0, undefeated.

"He'd be a pick, you can't leave the number one player in the world off your team.

"Tiger has been a very single-minded figure about his own performance on the golf course. I think he's a different player now, he's a different person now.

Fitting in

"He's had to make a lot of adjustments in his life and I think he's turning out to be a lot softer and easier guy to be around. I think he's going to fit into the team a lot easier at this Ryder Cup than he ever has before.

"His ability with the 14 clubs in his bag speaks for itself so I think it's a logical choice for Corey. If he doesn't make it, he's (Pavin) got to stand up to some pretty tough questions."

Asked about the attributes he would be looking for in the American players he would choose to play in Wales, Norman continued: "You've got to look at the golf course, I've never played Celtic Manor but I believe it's a very long golf course, probably heavy rough so you've got to look at someone who can power their way through that.

"You've also got to look for the guy that can make the six-foot putt at the last to win the Ryder Cup. You've got to come down to that, who can handle the pressure at the time.

"Lucas Glover's won a major, Zach Johnson another major winner and great putter, Anthony Kim is working his way through his game at the moment, so you've got to look at the guys who've got the ability to marry up the power game with the pressure putting when you need."

Four names

When pushed for four names, he added: "I'd probably go Tiger Woods number one, Zach Johnson number two, Anthony Kim because he's a likeable guy and an aggressive player at number three and then probably Lucas Glover who I think has got a great game about him and who's a major champion winner."

But regardless of who Pavin picks, Norman believes it is the European team who will come out on top at Celtic Manor.

"I think you've got to give the nod to the local team," he said. "The Europeans are young, keen and you've seen the performance of the European team at the major championships, you've seen the Molinaris doing very well in winning the World Cup.

"Even though they have six rookies on the team, I think the Europeans needed to go through that transition. They're bringing in new blood which is very, very talented and home turf is a big advantage in the Ryder Cup so I'd give them the nod."

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