Tiger Woods and Tom Watson have not addressed any lingering bad blood that may still boil between them, but the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup captain said Tuesday he planned to meet with the world No. 1 ahead of next September’s matches against Europe at Gleneagles.
Tom Watson hopes to patch things up with Tiger Woods ahead of 2014 Ryder Cup
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson plans to mend any discord between him and Tiger Woods before the two take the field at Gleneagles for next year’s Ryder Cup matches with Europe.
David Cannon
Watson was self-righteous and blunt in his criticism of Woods after details of the 14-time major champion’s self-inflicted personal woes went public in 2009.
“I really have not sat down with Tiger since then, though I did sit down beside him at the former champions dinner at this year’s U.S. Open and we just had a normal conversation,” Watson said Tuesday during a “Year to Go” event at the Scottish site of the next Ryder Cup, according to multiple reports.
Back in 2010, Watson minced no words in taking Woods to task for his behavior.
“It’s something he needs to get control of and get a handle of and he needs to make some amends and show some humility to the public when he comes back,” Watson told a TV crew. “His swearing and his club-throwing, that should end. That’s not part of what we want to project as far as the professional golf tour is concerned.”
During the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic, Watson called for Woods to “clean up his act ... and show respect for the game that other people before him have shown.”
He lectured Woods further, telling him to “take ownership” of his actions, “get his personal life in order,” and “show some humility” when he returned to the game.
Tuesday, with his moralizing behind him for now, Watson noted he would speak with Woods ahead of next September competition.
“I haven’t sat with Tiger privately for any length of time,” said the winner of eight major championships. “I will have a sit-down with him. I will need to do that with everybody.”
After the two patch things up, Watson may broach the subject of Woods’ less-than-stellar Ryder Cup performances. The winner of 79 PGA Tour tourneys has been on only one winning Ryder Cup team and will lug a 13-17-3 record into next year’s battles.
“Search me. It is an enigma to me. I don’t know,” Watson said about why Woods seems to struggle so much in Ryder Cup play.
As to what Tiger could do to improve his results, Watson was at a loss for a remedy.
“I guess all he can do is play better,” Watson concluded.
