Darren Clarke :: Tiger will be ‘massive’

• Darren Clarke wary of a Woods-inspired Team USA
• “He will be massive for the team,” said the 2011 Open champ
• Has revealed EurAsia Cup team – Will any be at Hazeltine?

Darren Clarke has said Tiger Woods’ presence on the US Ryder Cup team will be ‘massive’ – whether he is at Hazeltine as a player or vice-captain.

Last week, Woods was unveiled by Davis Love III as a vice-captain alongside Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, pledging to do ‘whatever he can’ to help USA win back the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008.

And Clarke, who is playing in this week’s Australian Open, has been watching his opposition’s moves with interest and believes getting the 14-time major winner on board is a smart move by his good friend Love.

“Tiger’s a great addition to Davis’ side” – Darren Clarke

“I think with Tiger, and knowing him as well as I do, he will be massive for the team and he will be involved as he’s shown us by accepting Davis’ invitation,” said Darren Clarke.

“He will also be trying desperately to be playing on the team. So certainly, Tiger’s a great addition to Davis’ side whether that be playing or behind the scenes as a vice-captain.”

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The addition of Woods, Furyk and Stricker means that Love has four of his five vice-captains – Tom Lehman was announced immediately by Love – with Clarke happy to wait until the Masters before revealing any of his so as not to offend anyone who may still have a chance of qualifying for the team. Both Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn’s names have been rumoured.

The Dane is set to accompany Clarke as a vice-captain at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia early next year, with the Northern Irishman announcing ten of his 12 players yesterday, only two of which have previously played in a Ryder Cup.

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Ross Fisher, who played at Celtic Manor in 2010, and Victor Dubuisson, who played an important role at Gleneagles last year, will headline a young group of players in what is a perfect opportunity to impress Clarke just eight months before the main event.

There’s no shortage of quality in the remainder of the side, all of who have achieved at least one victory in 2015. They are Race to Dubai runner-up Danny Willett, three-time winner Andy Sullivan, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational champion Shane Lowry, British Masters winner Matthew Fitzpatrick, Chris Wood, Kristoffer Broberg, Bernd Wiesberger and Soren Kjeldsen.

Darren Clarke on Tiger :: Do you agree?

Do you think Tiger Woods will have a significant influence on the US Ryder Cup team? And also, who out of the EurAsia Cup team do you think will make the European Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.