Ryder Cup countdown: Woods’ latest injury raises questions again

199 days until the first ball is in the air at Medinah.

Just when U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III thought he was done answering questions about Tiger Woods’ status, he saw the former world No. 1 walk off the course Sunday. You had to be thinking about O.J. as the NBC blimp followed Woods’ car down the highway.

It was one of the rare times we saw Woods driving straight. Sorry couldn’t resist.

Fresh off his 62 in the final round at Honda, everyone had reason to think Woods was indeed back, including Love. It would only be a matter of time before he moved into the top 8 on the U.S. points list, earning an automatic spot on the team.

But everything went out the window thanks to that balky Achilles. They are saying it is a mild strain, but the look on his grimacing face hardly suggested mild Sunday. If memory is right, that Achilles kept him out of action for three months last year.

Woods currently sits in 14th on the points list. He’ll drop again if he is out for an extended period of time.

So let’s see if he comes back for Arnie’s tournament next week at Bay Hill. If not then, definitely the Masters, right? However, Augusta National, with all its elevation changes, hardly is walking paradise. If you thought he was in pain Sunday, try traversing that course with a bad Achilles.

The Tiger Watch is on again.

U.S. Ryder Cup Points
Through – WGC at Doral
3/11/12
1 Keegan BRADLEY 2,761.6417
2 Phil MICKELSON 2,692.5741
3 Kyle STANLEY 2,013.9280
4 Bill HAAS 1,990.9706
5 Steve STRICKER 1,988.0757
6 Mark WILSON 1,925.8779
7 Hunter MAHAN 1,918.0543
8 Brandt SNEDEKER 1,820.9619
9 Johnson WAGNER 1,767.0458
10 Bubba WATSON 1,628.1832
11 Dustin JOHNSON 1,538.4020
12 Jason DUFNER 1,286.9770
13 Ben CRANE 1,143.3525
14 Tiger WOODS 1,029.6670
15 Bo VAN PELT 974.7760
16 Robert GARRIGUS 904.6878
17 Webb SIMPSON 887.1690
18 Kevin NA 873.1158
19 Matt KUCHAR 837.6170
20 Spencer LEVIN 810.8585
21 D.A. POINTS 804.4683
22 Rickie FOWLER 782.1987
23 Harrison FRAZAR 767.7100
24 David TOMS 757.0000
25 John ROLLINS 745.1680
European Team Ryder Cup Points
Through the WGC at Doral
3/11/2012
1 Rory MCILROY (NIR) 2,560,692.38
2 Martin KAYMER (GER) 1,521,785.28
3 Peter HANSON (SWE) 1,308,752.79
4 Justin ROSE (ENG) 1,308,517.57
5 Paul LAWRIE (SCO) 1,300,152.49
6 Gonzalo FDEZ-CASTAÑO (ESP) 1,247,894.08
7 Alvaro QUIROS (ESP) 1,131,897.87
8 Sergio GARCIA (ESP) 1,101,482.16
9 Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 913,632.53
10 Graeme MCDOWELL (NIR) 901,305.31
11 Rafael CABRERA-BELLO (ESP) 852,145.89
12 Thomas BJÖRN (DEN) 805,638.63
13 Robert ROCK (ENG) 787,626.69
14 Michael HOEY (NIR) 771,474.92
15 Joost LUITEN (NED) 745,781.45
16 Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ (ESP) 731,458.94
17 Luke DONALD (ENG) 675,522.24
18 Simon DYSON (ENG) 635,991.62
19 Francesco MOLINARI (ITA) 587,633.53
20 Grégory HAVRET (FRA) 587,359.34
21 Richie RAMSAY (SCO) 572,666.34
22 David LYNN (ENG) 550,482.02
23 Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) 539,339.03
24 Fredrik JACOBSON (SWE) 537,041.63
25 Tom LEWIS (ENG) 493,202.92
European Team World Points
Through 3/11/12
1 Rory MCILROY (NIR) 308.48
2 Justin ROSE (ENG) 187.11
3 Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 172.43
4 Luke DONALD (ENG) 151.45
5 Martin KAYMER (GER) 135.71
6 Peter HANSON (SWE) 119.11
7 Paul LAWRIE (SCO) 115.45
8 Sergio GARCIA (ESP) 112.44
9 Gonzalo FDEZ-CASTAÑO (ESP) 106.62
10 Graeme MCDOWELL (NIR) 105.19
11 Thomas BJÖRN (DEN) 92.81
12 Robert ROCK (ENG) 87.88
13 Rafael CABRERA-BELLO (ESP) 86.23
14 Simon DYSON (ENG) 83.33
15 Alvaro QUIROS (ESP) 73.33
16 Joost LUITEN (NED) 71.98
17 Fredrik JACOBSON (SWE) 70.23
18 Michael HOEY (NIR) 66.15
19 Paul CASEY (ENG) 62.85
20 Francesco MOLINARI (ITA) 59.32
21 Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ (ESP) 57.17
22 David LYNN (ENG) 55.04
23 Ian POULTER (ENG) 54.44
24 Robert KARLSSON (SWE) 54.37
25 Grégory HAVRET (FRA) 51.74
U. S. Ryder Cup Qualifications (Captain Davis Love III)
The United States points system will determine the top eight players for the 2012 United States Ryder Cup Team on August 12, 2012. In addition, Captain Davis Love III selects four players on Sept.4, 2012 in New York City, to complete the United States Team. Points are based upon the following:
• Prize money earned in the 2011 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship): One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.
• Prize money earned in 2012 “Official” events from Jan. 1 through Aug. 12: One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned, excluding the major championships, events played opposite major championships and events played opposite World Golf Championships; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.
• Prize money earned for the 2012 major championships: (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and the PGA Championship). Two points are awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.
• Prize money earned in 2012 events played opposite the major championships and opposite World Golf Championship events between Jan. 1 and the PGA Championship, Aug. 12 – one-half point will be awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points. 

European Ryder Cup Team Qualifications (Captain José María Olazábal)
The European Team will be selected employing the following criteria:
• The leading five players on The Ryder Cup European Points List (1) at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on The 2012 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
• The leading five players, not otherwise qualified (having selected the five players from The Ryder Cup European Points List) from The Ryder Cup World Points List (2) at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking.
• The Captain, José María Olazábal, will choose the remaining two players following the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship on Monday, Aug. 27 at Gleneagles.
1. The Ryder Cup European Points List will comprise points (1 point = 1 Euro) earned by a European Tour Member from all officially sanctioned European Tour tournaments on The European Tour Race to Dubai from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012.
2. The Ryder Cup World Points List will comprise World Ranking Points won by a European Tour Member from each tournament in which he participates from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012. World Ranking Points are allocated to all officially sanctioned tournaments (on any Federated Tour) by the Official World Golf Ranking and are allocated according to the Event Rating of the tournament.

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