Tiger Woods among Ryder Cup wild-card selections

As announcements go, this one was up there with that of the Eagles' opening-game quarterback, minus the testiness.

Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. They're the first three of U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk's four wild-card picks, as just about everyone expected they would be.

Furyk made it official late Tuesday afternoon in Conshohocken. The BMW Championship, the next-to-last leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, tees off Thursday at Newtown Square's Aronimink Golf Club. Furyk will name his remaining choice on Monday. Tony Finau looks to be the favorite. But this trio had pretty much already made themselves locks.

"[The decision] could have been a lot more difficult," Furyk conceded.

The trio finished 9-11 in the two-year standings (the first eight through last month's PGA Championship qualified automatically). DeChambeau has won the first two FedEx events. Mickelson won a World Golf Championship event this year (his first victory in five years), is coming off his low round of the season, and has been on every Ryder Cup team since 1995 (though it's the first time he wasn't a qualifier). And Woods is, well, Woods. And he's played so much better than many expected this season after missing most of the past few years with various injuries. Now he won't have to go as a vice captain, which was his role in 2016.

A cynic could point out that neither Woods nor Mickelson has a winning Ryder Cup record. And Woods hasn't played in one since 2012. Details. It's unlikely either will play five matches. But Furyk said four is a possibility.

"I understand how important this is," said Woods, who is ranked 26th in the world after finishing second in last month's PGA and leading early on the final nine at the British Open in July. "It's incredible, it really is … beyond special. I'm honored to be able to play in it again.

"At the beginning of the year, this was one of my goals. To accomplish … that, to have this opportunity, it's exciting."

Added Mickelson, who turned 48 in June: "I cherish these events, how meaningful they are. This is most likely my last chance to go over to Europe [as a player in this biennial competition]. My excitement [level] is at an all-time high."

The matches will take place late this month in suburban Paris, a first. The U.S. hasn't won on foreign turf since 1993. The Americans are the defending champions and some observers feel this could be one of their most talented teams.

The qualifiers (in order) are Brooks Koepka, who has won three of the last six majors in which he has played, world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson.

The European squad will be finalized tomorrow. So far the eight who are on it, through either the Euro points list or world points list, are Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren and Thorbjorn Olesen.

"I look forward to our players handling the situation well, [and] thrive on the challenge ahead of them," Furyk said.

Two years ago, when the U.S. won at Hazeltine in Minnesota, DeChambeau went as a spectator. This will be different.

"I wanted to be part of it so badly," he recalled. "There are some moments in life that are too good to be true. But [getting that congratulatory phone call] was an honor I'll never forget."

Now they just have to go play. History suggests that part could be a lot more difficult.