Tiger Woods given 'COLD SHOULDER' by Ryder Cup team-mates - 'They turned backs on him'
TIGER WOODS was the victim of a Team USA prank ahead of the Ryder Cup.
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Woods completed a stunning sporting comeback by winning his first PGA Tour trophy in five years at the Tour Championship.
Fans stormed on to the course at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta last weekend as an emotional Woods fought back tears.
After the golf legend fulfilled his media obligations Woods linked up with his American Ryder Cup team-mates - but they all ignored him.
For Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk had got the blessing of Woods' caddy Joe LaCava to play a brilliant practical joke.
Tiger shows up about a half hour later and is looking for some high fives from everybody and they wouldn't give him the time of day
"I ran into Jim Furyk and he said, 'We were thinking about giving Tiger the cold shoulder like they do in baseball when the guy hits his first home run,'" LaCava told Sirius/XM.
"He asked, 'Do you think Tiger will be OK with that?' I was like, 'Of course he would.He's got a sense of humor.'
"Tiger shows up about a half hour later and is looking for some high fives from everybody and they wouldn't give him the time of day.
"They weren't even looking at him; they all have their backs to him."
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"He's looking at me like, what's going on? He's not a guy who is looking for fanfare, but these are his boys. He's looking for 11 guys to run up and give him a good hug."
Woods will partner Patrick Reed against Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood in the fourth and final fourballs match when the Ryder Cup gets underway on Friday, a grouping sure to be the number one draw for fans at Le Golf National.
Woods, back in the competition after not playing in the last two editions, is in hot form and it looks a formidable partnership with this year's Masters champion Reed.
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The first match of the day sees Justin Rose and Spanish rookie Jon Rahm taking on Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau.
Rory McIlroy and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen face world number one Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler, while English duo Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton take on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
Two years ago at Hazeltine the United States swept to a 4-0 lead in the opening morning's foursomes - where players play alternate shots with the same ball - and though Europe fought back to close the gap, the home side eventually ran out convincing 17-11 winners.
This time Europe have opted to start the day with the fourball format where each man plays his own ball and the lowest scoring player on each side counts in the matchplay competition.