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 Woods, who had surgery in March to treat a pinched nerve and has
played just eight tournaments this year, asked U.S. captain Tom
Watson not to consider him for one of three wildcard picks for the
biennial team competition against Europe next month.
Watson will announce his three picks on Sept. 2 to complete his
12-man team to take on holders Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland from
Sept. 26-28.
"While I greatly appreciate Tom thinking about me for a possible
captain's pick, I must take myself out of consideration," Woods said
in a statement.
"I've been told by my doctors and trainer that my back muscles need
to be rehabilitated and healed. They've advised me not to play or
practise now. I'm extremely disappointed that I won't be ready for
the competition.
"The U.S. team and the Ryder Cup mean too much to me not to be able
to give it my best. I'll be cheering for the U.S. team. I think we
have an outstanding squad going into the matches."
Woods, a 14-times major winner, said on his official website that he
planned to return to competition for the Dec. 4-7 World Challenge
tournament which he hosts, to be played this year in Orlando,
Florida.
"It's an event that's important to me and my foundation, and it will
be exciting to be playing again," he said. "I was fortunate that my
recent back injury was not related to my surgery and was muscular
only."
Woods has struggled for form since recovering from back surgery in
late March and missed the cut at last week's PGA Championship, only
the fourth missed cut of his professional career in a major.
PRONOUNCED FIT
Though he had pronounced himself fit to compete in the year's final
major after recovering from back spasms that forced him to withdraw
from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the previous week, he looked
rusty and out-of-sorts in both rounds.
By some distance the leading player of his generation and arguably
of all time, Woods had previously missed the cut as a professional
at the 2006 U.S. Open, 2009 British Open and 2011 PGA Championship.
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The 38-year-old has appeared on seven U.S. Ryder Cup teams between 1997
and 2012 but missed the 2008 edition at Valhalla Golf Club after having
knee surgery earlier that year.
"My primary wish is for Tiger to be healthy and competitive, and I hope
that he'll return to the game very soon," U.S. captain Watson said in a
statement.
"Of course, I'm disappointed that Tiger Woods has asked not to be
considered for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, and that his health is not where
he would like it to be.
"However, I think we can all agree that we need Tiger Woods in this
great sport, and he has taken the high road by informing me early on in
the selection process."
The nine players confirmed as automatic selections after last week's PGA
Championship were Masters champion Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jim
Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth, Patrick
Reed and Zach Johnson.
The Americans will be bidding to end a run of seven losses against
Europe in the last nine Ryder Cups, their most recent victory coming in
2008 under the captaincy of Paul Azinger when Woods was absent.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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