McIlroy eyes Tiger as easy Ryder Cup prey

Rory McIlroy is hoping that struggling world number one golfer Tiger Woods is picked as a United States wild card for October's Ryder Cup - because he believes that he will be easy prey for the European team.

The 21-year-old Holywood native's star has been in the ascendant this year finishing third in both the British Open and the PGA Championship last Sunday and he says that he would love to take on Woods at Celtic Manor in Wales in the biennial event which runs from October 1-3.

Woods' form has been middling to poor this year as he has battled to overcome the sex scandal that hit him late last year and is at the behest of US captain Corey Pavin to see if he is one of the four wild card picks which must be supplied by September 7.

‘I'm sure we'll probably see him (Woods) in Wales,’ said McIlroy, who was one shot off joining German Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson in the PGA play-off which Kaymer went on to win.

‘I would love to face him. Unless his game rapidly improves...I think anyone in the European team would fancy their chances against him.’

McIlroy, who has risen to seventh in the world rankings, doesn't think that 14-time major winner Woods merits a place in the Ryder Cup team - for whom he has rarely replicated his dominant tournament form - but believes he will be there.

‘There are a lot of American players playing better than him at the minute but it's always an advantage to have Tiger Woods in your team,’ said McIlroy.

‘I think he'll (Pavin) pick him. I don't think it would go down too well in the States if he wasn't picked.’