IRELAND: GOLF - Tiger Woods is fed up with second best in the Ryder Cup says teammate Stewart Cink

Tiger Woods is fed up with his mediocre Ryder Cup record and will come out firing on all cylinders at the K Club this week, according to his U.S. team mate Stewart Cink. "Tiger has really enjoyed himself this week and he is tired of losing, like we all are," Cink told reporters after practice on Tuesday (September 19). "That's one thing about Tiger, he does not like to lose at anything, whether it is golf or ping pong or billiards or a spitting contest. He is going to put his best foot forward here." World number one Woods has won only seven of the 20 Ryder Cup matches he has been involved since making his debut in the biennial team event in Valderrama in 1997. While the U.S. look upon world number one Woods as the figurehead of their team, Cink said the Americans viewed Colin Montgomerie in a similar light for Cup holders Europe. "You probably have to say that Monty is the guy that has been around the longest and he's put a dent in our number of points over the years," said the 33-year-old Cink, one of two wildcard selections in the U.S. team. "The Ryder Cup, I think, is where he shines the most. If I had to pick one player out who has been their most outstanding Ryder Cupper over the lastdecade, it has been Colin Montgomerie." Jim Furyk is expecting an explosion of noise when the 36th Ryder Cup gets underway on Friday. "The crowds are unbelievably excited and it is a good crowd for a Tuesday," the U.S. Cup stalwart told reporters as the players practised at the K Club. "It is just going to keep getting bigger and the noise and the excitement is going to grow. It is going to be incredible by the time Friday comes round." U.S. captain Tom Lehman said a bond had already been formed between his players and the K Club galleries. "I would say the Irish golf fans are among the best in the world and they appreciate our team being here," said Lehman. "Our guys have been showing respect to them as they have to us." Lehman surprised no one when he put Furyk together with world number one Tiger Woods in practice on Tuesday. The 36-year-old Furyk, who has one of the game's more unorthodox swings, provided a ready quip when asked why Woods enjoyed playing alongside him. "He probably likes watching my swing," joked the world number three before giving a more serious assessment of their partnership. Chris DiMarco has a special reason for hoping the United States can this week claim an overwhelming Ryder Cup success like Europe did two years ago. America's unofficial cheerleader stood silently by the 18th green at Oakland Hills in 2004 as Europe celebrated deliriously after their nine-point thrashing of the U.S.. He did it to remind himself in two years' time how badly he felt then and how good he would feel if the U.S. could also win away from home. "We just got our butts handed to us and they were celebrating on our green," he explained. While the players were doing the talking team captains Lehmann and Ian Woosnam took time out to be presented with honarary degrees at University College, Dublin.

ITN Source | September 21, 2006

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