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Summary Couples took the drama out of the debate over whether Woods would be on the team.
US captain Fred Couples has told Tiger Woods that hes add him to the 12-member Presidents Cup team.Ive told him that hes going to be on the team, Couples said just before a practice round preparing for the Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. There is no reason for me to wait till Sept. 26 to pick Tiger. Hes the best player in the world forever.Ten players automatically qualify for the team based on points accumulated over the past two years. Couples is then given two captains picks to round out his squad, which will compete against a team of non-European International players at Royal Melbourne in Australia from Nov. 14-20.Woods, who is 28th on the Presidents Cup list, had a long summer layoff because of soreness in his left knee and left Achilles tendon. He played in two recent tournaments, finishing 37th in the Bridgestone Invitational in early August then missing the cut the following week at the US PGA Championship.Woods wrote on his website this week that he had conversations with Couples about playing on the team and that of course, I want to be on the team that competes in Australia.Is he playing well right now? No. (But) he almost won (The Masters) four months ago so you dont do that by playing poor golf, Couples said. In my opinion, when youre the best player in the world for 12 straight years and youre not on a team, theres something wrong.Everyone else can have their opinion, but as far as I know Jay Haas and myself are the captains and we want him on this team.Haas is Couples assistant for these matches.Couples, initially unaware Woods had not qualified for this weeks FedEx Cup, told him by text message to find another tournament to play. Woods next scheduled appearance is not until the Australian Open, the week before the Cup, although he said he might add a US PGA Tour event to his schedule.He has responded to that. Im pretty sure youll see him one more time, Couples said. Thats enough for me. I know the last thing he wants to do is embarrass himself. I think hell be ready to play. Does that mean hes going to go out and win every point? No, I dont expect that. But I expect him to be sharp and ready to play. I would be shocked if hes not.
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