Feeling Snubbed, Earl Woods Will Skip Ryder Cup in Protest

Tiger Woods’ father reportedly is angry at not being invited to the Ryder Cup and will skip the tournament in protest.

“I’ve trained him to play with me there or not,” Earl Woods told The Mail On Sunday. He blames the Professional Golfers’ Assn. of America for the snub.

“This is my protest at the way they treat the parents,” he said. “It makes no sense and it’s not justified. Tiger is only 21 and does not have a girlfriend, but they don’t think enough of the parents to invite them instead [of wives and some of the players’ girlfriends].”

Woods, winner of the Masters and one of 12 players on the American team, will be the most-watched golfer in the three-day showdown between the United States and Europe. The biennial event begins Friday in Spain.

“I can unequivocally state that I’m more responsible for Tiger being where he is today and have a bigger contribution to the team than all the wives and girlfriends combined,” the elder Woods said.