Ryder Cup: Injured Woods remains one-win wonder

American golfer absent from this year’s edition starting today

GLENEAGLES: Injured star Tiger Woods has 14 major titles and 79 career PGA crowns, second-most all-time in both areas, but when it comes to Ryder Cups, he is only a one-trophy wonder.

The former world number one, who turns 39 in December, is absent from this year's Ryder Cup, with back surgery in March to ease a pinched nerve having caused him to miss most of the rest of the season and tell US captain Tom Watson not to consider him as a captain's pick.

"The US team and the Ryder Cup mean too much to me not to be able to give it my best," said Woods. "I'll be cheering for the US team. I think we have an outstanding squad going into the matches."

Watson says the Americans miss Woods' intimidation factor, which has dimmed of late due to recent injuries and his eight-year major win drought.

"I said right from the beginning, I would love to have Woods on the team," said Watson. "He brings an element of intimidation. Even though he's not on the team, he is here in spirit."

While Woods ranks second to the all-time major win mark of 18 by Jack Nicklaus and career win mark of 82 by Sam Snead, he has found little success in the Ryder Cup.

The only winning side Woods has played for was the 1999 squad that rallied for 8 1/2 points in singles to edge Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2 at Brookline. He missed the 2008 US team that won in Valhalla with an injury after winning his most recent major, the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, on a broken leg.