Woods benched for 1st time at Ryder Cup

[September 29, 2012]  MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- For the first time in his career, Tiger Woods will be on the bench at the Ryder Cup.

U.S. captain Davis Love III has decided not to play Woods in the Saturday morning session of foursomes. Woods had played every match since making his debut at Valderrama in 1997. He did not play in the 2008 matches while recovering from knee surgery, and he only played four matches in Wales two years ago because the matches were reconfigured due to rain.

Love had said all week he didn't want players to be in all five matches, so they could conserve energy for the singles matches on Sunday.

Woods played poorly in a foursomes loss Friday morning and was sent back out. He made seven birdies Friday afternoon in a fourball loss and was benched.

[Associated Press]

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