No doubts for Monty over Tiger

Corey Pavin is refusing to say whether Tiger Woods will be in his Ryder Cup side – but opposite number Colin Montgomerie has no doubt what he would do.

“That’s a very difficult, dangerous and undiplomatic question – but of course I’d pick him, yes,” said Montgomerie today when the two men held a joint press conference before the start of the USPGA Championship in Wisconsin.

“Let me make a note of that,” responded Pavin, who earlier in the day had used his Twitter page to deny that he had said the world number one was a certain wildcard if he does not qualify automatically on Sunday.

“Thanks for the help. Appreciate it. He’s very helpful that way, Colin is.”

Woods, 10th in a table from which only the leading eight will earn spots, finished next-to-last in a world championship event last weekend.

But on Tuesday he stated unequivocally that he wanted to be on the team even if he fails to earn his spot.

Pavin is to wait until September 7 to name his selections, but on why he was not prepared to name Woods now the former US Open champion said: “It would be disrespectful to everybody that’s trying to make the team.

“I’ve got quite a few people I’m looking at. I would not disrespect any of the players that are potential players on the team.

“There’s nobody that’s promised any picks right now.”

As for the “of course I’m going to” comment that was reported he added: “Obviously there was a misinterpretation of what I said – that is an incorrect quote.”

Montgomerie is, of course, well aware that the Americans won without Woods two years ago - he was recovering from knee surgery then - and that he has been on only one victorious side since his 1997 debut.

There is also the fact that Woods has looked a shadow of his former self since the scandal that became public knowledge in November.

But Montgomerie said: “Of course there’s a huge aura regarding Tiger Woods still.

“It’s the one name that all our team will be looking for if they are going to play against him in any form of the Ryder Cup.

“It’s the first name that would spring to mind for any of my team – and something that my team will relish the opportunity of playing against what we all believe is the best player of our generation.”