American captain Corey Pavin insists Masters champion Phil Mickelson is fully committed to playing at the Ryder Cup in October.
US skipper expects Masters champion to feature in Ryder Cup
American captain Corey Pavin insists Masters champion Phil Mickelson is fully committed to playing at the Ryder Cup in October.
Ahead of competing at this week's China Open, Pavin had been quoted as saying: "I am not sure if Phil's locked into making the team".
As a result, it was subsequently speculated that Mickelson had not confirmed his participation at the bi-annual event because of his off-course situation with both his wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, battling breast cancer.
However, following his bogey-free opening round of 67 in China, Pavin moved to clarify his comment, announcing that Mickelson was in fact keen to participate in his eighth consecutive Ryder Cup match.
"I meant by the points; if he has made enough points to be already guaranteed to play," said Pavin, a two-time Ryder Cup winner as a player.
Mickelson took time away from the game to be with his family and missed the WCG-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, but after winning a third Green Jacket last week at Augusta the 39-year-old currently tops the US points table.
Pavin continued: "I was just saying that I don't know if he has already made enough points to lock himself into the team if he didn't make another point. I know he wants to play."
Less certain on Tiger
The American skipper conceded he was less certain about the availability of Tiger Woods who revealed after his fourth-placed finish at Augusta that he is to take another break from the game.
His result at the Masters pushed Woods, who has only been on a winning Ryder Cup team once in five appearances, up to seventh and into an automatic qualification place on the points table, but it remains to be seen if he will stay in a qualification position given his sparse schedule.
"If Tiger is playing well enough I would give him a captain's pick if he didn't qualify, but he would have to be playing well enough," added Pavin.
"If he doesn't play at all leading up to the Ryder Cup it is going to be pretty tricky to pick him as I don't know how he would be playing.
"It would be hard not to pick him at any point, but he needs to play well, he needs to show me he is playing well just like any other play. Just because he is Tiger doesn't mean he has a free pass on to the team just like any other player."
Early blow
Pavin struck an early blow against European counterpart Colin Montgomerie with whom he has been paired for the opening two rounds in China.
While Pavin ended the first day just three shots back of the lead following his 67, Montgomerie had to settle for a frustrating level-par 72 despite carding no fewer than six birdies.
"We didn't talk about the Ryder Cup. We had a couple of conversations, but it was just chit-chat," said Pavin.
"We wouldn't talk Ryder Cup on the course, we'd do that off it as it's too serious for the course.
"We had one little chat off course about the Ryder Cup, but it wasn't dramatic. We had good conversation on the golf course and it was fun.
"It's been a while since I played with Monty. I enjoy playing with him - he's a great player."
