Sports

Tiger backs out of Ryder Cup running

Tiger Woods will not play in this year’s Ryder Cup.

Woods, less than a week removed from missing the cut at the PGA Championship at Valhalla, contacted the PGA of America and US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson on Tuesday evening and formally withdrew his name from consideration as one of Watson’s three wild-card picks scheduled to be named on Sept. 2.

According to people close to Woods, whose year has been marred by back surgery, missed playing time and missed cuts, he was advised by doctors to lay off practicing for the foreseeable future to rest his back. And, with the Ryder Cup Sept. 26-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland, there was no chance for him to be healthy enough and/or have his game ready without being able to practice or play.

“My primary wish is for Tiger to be healthy and competitive and I hope that he’ll return to the game very soon,’’ Watson said in a statement. “Of course, I’m disappointed that Tiger Woods has asked not to be considered for the US Ryder Cup team, and that his health is not where he would like it to be.

“However, I think we can all agree that we need Tiger Woods in this great sport, and he has taken the high road in informing me early on in the selection process. My focus will remain on identifying three players to join the US team and give us the best chance at Gleneagles.’’

Ted Bishop, the president of the PGA of America, said in a statement: “By making this decision, Tiger has put the US Ryder Cup team and his health first. And, although we’re disappointed that he will not be a part of this year’s team, we respect Tiger’s decision and wish him all the best for a speedy and successful recovery.

“This was a classy and respectful move by Tiger that allowed captain Watson plenty of time to formulate his team and plan accordingly.’’

This news comes just two days after Watson sounded as if he was leaving it up to Woods whether he wanted to be a part of the team — provided he was healthy.

“I trust Tiger to give me the straight skinny,’’ Watson said Monday. “I trust him inherently. I think it really directly comes from Tiger, how he assesses himself, because Tiger, he has a directness to him. He’s just like me. I’m direct and he’s direct. The main thing is I can’t really assess his medical condition and I honestly can’t assess how he’s playing. It really is going to be having to come from information from Tiger himself.’’