Woods Frustrated By Armchair Role But Keeps in Touch By Text

Absence clearly does make the heart grow fonder. Tiger Woods, for so long seemingly indifferent to the Ryder Cup, could not resist its distant charms as he watched from his home in Florida, pining for involvement as the epic encounter unfolded. But all he could provide were backstage messages as golf's leading event - and that label cannot be debated after this weekend - threw up a new set of heroes.

"The greatest player in the world is sitting at home watching and texting me and everybody else he can find," the United States captain, Paul Azinger, said. "He texted 10 times yesterday, at least." Michael Jordan added: "He texted me when I was massaging [Nick] Faldo. He said 'Get your hands off him and choke him instead of massaging him'."

Woods' message to the basketball legend hints at a playful nature he is careful to conceal from the public. In past Ryder Cups it has appeared as if he has not revealed that side of himself to his team-mates either. Traditionally golf is an individual sport, and Woods is its greatest individual. Stewart Cink hinted as much before Friday's tee-off.

"Even though everybody likes Tiger and we get along with him, we all feel like we're more similar to each other," Cink said. "When 12 players walk out of a clubhouse, there's one cart to take one person and the other 11 have to find their way. That part will be a little different."

Not just a little different. The biggest compliment anyone could pay the United States this week has been that their team ethic has more than matched the Europeans' - no longer Woods plus 11 others. The 14-times major champion, recuperating after having reconstructive knee surgery in June, had offered his help and phone number to Azinger before this week, but added with unintentional shrewdness: "I doubt I can do much, since I can't play practice rounds and am not privy to their team chemistry."

Woods' below-par record for the US team - combining the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, he has lost more of his 50 matches than he has won - remains something of a mystery. He has won the WGC Match Play on three occasions, including this year, his competitive streak thriving in mano-a-mano combat. But pair him with another and he cannot stop losing.

Woods has had a remarkable 11 partners in the Ryder Cup, three of whom were in this US team. All three, Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard and particularly Phil Mickelson, have played with spirit, unburdened by the great man's presence. Likewise it is hard, albeit not impossible, to imagine the debutants Anthony Kim and Boo Weekley playing with such uninhibited personality were they in Woods's shadow. Although Azinger lost the world's best player, it is not too much of a stretch to suggest that his uplifting captaincy has also benefited from the absence of such an intimidating figure in the team room.

The Americans certainly reveled in the challenge of contending without Woods, to the extent that he will now be desperate to prove in 2010 that he too can be part of a competitive side. It is a cliche to say that no player is bigger than such-and-such a team or event, but in this case it is appropriate.