Why US Ryder Cup team could profit from Tiger’s loss

Triubled Tiger Woods is today coming to terms with the realisation that for the first time in 15 years as a professional he has ended a Tour season without a title.

But that setback could be a bonus for the United States team which will seek to retain the Ryder Cup against Europe at Celtic Manor in just over a fortnight.

Woods revealed he will spend valuable time practising with new swing coach Sean Foley after failing to qualify for the Tour Championship to be hosted by the East Lake course in Atlanta the week before the Ryder Cup.

Only the top 30 in the FedEx Cup play-off standings contest the climax to the US PGA Tour season and by finishing 15th in the BMW Championship in Chicago last night Woods exited the race in 42nd spot.

The world No1 said: "Obviously I would rather be at East Lake but it is what it is, I didn't qualify. I was looking forward to only getting a one-week break. Now I've got two, but it'll be good because now I can practise at home with Sean in peace away from everybody and put some work in.

"I also can work on my short game and my putting. It'll be nice to concentrate on my game a little bit more, sharpen up and be ready come the Friday of the Ryder Cup. Of late I'm definitely getting along better."

Woods's Ryder Cup team-mate, Dustin Johnson, won yesterday after Britain's Paul Casey let slip a three‑shot lead.

Casey, who controversially missed out on a wild card for the European Ryder Cup team, was three clear after 12 holes but bogeyed the next three to lose by one shot.

That collapse was a blow but four rounds of 69 were enough to suggest Casey would have been a strong member of Colin Montgomerie's line-up.

The 33-year-old agreed he was playing well — Casey is 10th in the world rankings — but he refused to be drawn into commenting on his Ryder Cup snub.

"I can't go there, unfortunately," he said.