Rory McIlroy hoping Tiger Woods on course for Ryder Cup 2016

Rory McIlroy was taken by surprise when told of Tiger Woods’s appointment as a 2016 Hazeltine Ryder Cup vice-captain.

Woods selection along with that of fellow current PGA Tour competing Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker is also seen by many observers as a move towards potential USA team captaincy for all three.

“You mean, he’s not playing?” was McIlroy’s first reaction.

“So I don’t know what to think about it, I really don’t. But then it’s great he wants to help the US team in any way he can, and if that’s not in a playing capacity, then as a vice-captain.

“So it makes me think what really is his health like and how he feels but then I would rather see him on the course at Hazeltine, but if not, at least, he’ll be there and it will be a good addition for them.” And McIlroy agreed with ‘Mr Ryder Cup’ Ian Poulter declaring: “It’s a smart move, definitely. One of the smarter ones.” American Patrick Reed, who was unbeaten at Gleneagles, sees Woods appointment being an inspiration to what is looking like a very young USA Team.

“It’s great see Tiger wanting to be involved and shows how much he cares about the Ryder Cup despite what a lot of people may have been saying in the past,” said Reed.

“In picking Tiger, Furyk and Stricker, Davis has a generation of American Ryder Cup players who have not had the success they thought they may have had in the Ryder Cups.

“But then I think Tiger, if he gets fit again, and Jim potentially can still qualify for the team with Jim still very competitive and had a great chance of qualifying for the team.

“So it’s good to see Tiger is getting involved and it can only help given the American team is already looking to be a very young side, so to have someone of Tiger’s ability could be a huge boost for the Americans.”

McIlroy produced an equally smart move in holing an 18th hole birdie bunker shot in a round of a four under par 68 on the opening day of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

It handed the four-time Major winner a share of sixth place with Race to Dubai rival Danny Willett and with the pair just two strokes behind the leading foursome of Martin Kaymer, the England pair of Poulter and Andy Sullivan and Australia’s Marcus Fraser.

“It was all pretty scrappy until the last hole, so it’s nice to get around in 68,” said McIlroy.

“I felt like it was a struggle at times out there but to produce something like that at the last makes me feel a lot better.”

The five ahead of McIlroy, including Italy’s Francesco Molinari at five under par, cannot affect McIlroy capturing a third European Tour No. 1 crown in four years should either go onto to win this week.

In contrast, Shane Lowry struggled his way to a disappointing three over par 75 and slip to 54th place when he needs to finish, at worst, second if he’s to deny McIlroy the Race to Dubai title.