Woods: I don’t deserve Ryder pick

TIGER WOODS last night suffered his worst tournament finish as a professional in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio – but still held onto his position as world number one.

With Woods finishing joint 78th in the 80-man field after a closing round of 77, Phil Mickelson knew he needed to finish fourth or better to move top of the world rankings.

The US Masters champion was joint 10th overnight and four shots off the lead, but endured a nightmare front nine of 41 to end his chances of ending Woods’ five-year reign.

American Hunter Mahan captured his second Tour victory this year in winning the event by two strokes with a closing round 64 for a 12-under par total.

USA Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is facing a dilemma after Woods declared he doesn’t deserve to be picked for the Celtic Manor side after finishing with an 18-over par tally.

Woods easily let slip his grip on four straight victories on the Firestone course with his poorest display since ending 60th on his professional debut in the 1996 Milwaukee Open.

Pennsylvania spectator Eric Herzeing has a story to tell when he gets home after an errant tee-shot from Woods at the par three, 15th hit the 25-year old in the face.

Woods asked him if he was okay and Herzeing responded: “I’ve got a little blood but I’m good.” Woods then signed a glove and threw him the ball after putting out for a rare par.

However, with less than two months to the Ryder Cup showdown at Celtic Manor, Woods has hinted for the first time that unless there’s a marked turnaround in his game he would not expect Pavin to select him for the October 1 showdown at Celtic Manor.

Woods has played in five Ryder Cups but at this stage would need a ‘captain’s pick’ to make the team.

“I would not want to play in the Ryder Cup playing like this, definitely not, not playing like this,” said Woods.

“I mean, I wouldn’t help the team if I’m playing like this. No one would help the team if they’re shooting 18-over par.”

Woods heads to the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, starting in Wisconsin on Thursday, and hasn’t tasted success since capturing last November’s Australian Masters title in Melbourne.

“I think I can turn it around, but we’ve got a lot of time between now and the Ryder Cup, which is good.”

Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington produced another reminder his two-year winless drought could be finally at an end with a final round 66 in the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Harrington picked-up more than 20 places to end inside the top-10 in the $US 8.5m event a week after muscling his way to second place in the Irish Open at Killarney.

The Dubliner's last round included a second hole eagle and four birdies for a five-under par tally in continuing hot and humid conditions on the Firestone course.

It was Harrington’s lowest round of the tournament as he now heads to the season’s final Major at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

“I created a lot of chances out there today and even though I struggled on the greens, I am happy,” he said.

“It was nice going forward and I am happy with the game as I leave here.

“I certainly overdid the work this week, and I’m putting that down to too much time spent on the range that maybe upset my putting a bit in terms that I felt a little bit tired.”

Rory McIlroy then joined Harrington inside the top-10 but with another roller-coaster mix of four birdies spread among three bogeys for an eventual five-under par and join the likes also of reigning British Open champion, Louis Oosthuizen (65), Australia’s Adam Scott (67) and Ryder Cup rival Steve Stricker (67).

And Graeme McDowell can also head to Wisconsin delighted with his first competitive showing in the States since capturing the U.S. Open despite ending with a 72.

McDowell’s final round included two birdies in his opening three holes before a fourth hole double bogey.

The Portrush player then birdied the fifth but dropped shots at three of the next four holes.

He then birdied the 12th ahead of dropping a further shot at the last.