Ryder Cup: Will Tiger have a part to play under Captain Watson?

Tiger and Tom don't exactly see eye to eye

The announcement of Tom Watson as the next USA Ryder Cup captain might be to a lot of people's liking, but it won't exactly be music to Tiger Woods' ears. Ralph Ellis explains...

When American golf fans picked over the debacle of how they'd lost the Ryder Cup, it was Tiger Woods who got most of the flak. USA Today labelled him a man the team could not rely on - and said at times he "appeared to be barely here".

The dust may have settled from that fallout, but you suspect that the debate about Woods has not. And it wouldn't be a big surprise now if come 2014 the man who has been the sport's biggest star for more than a decade actually isn't there at all. Quite clearly, in choosing Tom Watson as their captain, the PGA of America have decided they need to take the Tiger by the tail.

The 60-year-old has history with Woods, and they don't get on. He has been an outspoken critic of Tiger's on course behaviour and compared him unfavourably to the greats of the past like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as a poor role model. He's criticised his swearing and club throwing, and the on course tantrums that have always been the darker side of Tiger's game.

If there's one thing Woods hates it is criticism. So don't expect a man who has always seemed an outsider in the US team to relish having Watson as his captain. Don't be surprised if come September 2014 there's a niggling hamstring injury which stops him turning up.

But it seems the Americans are so desperate to find a formula to recover the trophy they really aren't bothered about upsetting Woods. And so they are happy to turn the clock back to give the job again to the last man who succeeded on European soil - it was Watson who led the team to victory at the Belfry in 1993.

Such has been the rise of Europe's stars like Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald that the Americans are currently anything up to 3.02/1 to win the Ryder Cup in 2014. But while Woods might not like Watson, whose appointment will be confirmed later today, it might just make that a bargain bet at the moment.

The veteran will be respected by the rest of the players, and most of all he is a winner. All those years ago he wasn't afraid to upset Europe with a single minded approach, annoying Sam Torrance by refusing to let his players sign a menu at the pre-event dinner because he didn't want his players distracted. He also knows his way around the unique characteristics of Scottish golf courses - four of his five Open championships were won north of the border.

Europe's captain won't be named until January, and at the moment the market is split between the original favourite Paul McGinley (1.9520/21) and Darren Clarke (1.728/11).

At anywhere near even money that makes Clarke a great bet - all the most informed pundits believe he has already been chosen as the European Tour's preferred pick for his bubbly personality. Lee Westwood has even been on the record to endorse his credentials.

It sets up a dynamic contest with two captains who are both big personalities. And if that means one Tiger Woods is no longer the big story, then I suspect that the Americans will no longer care.