Tiger ready for first-tee tension and big crowds at Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods expects some nervous excitement when he steps on the first tee for the trophy-holders United States against Europe in the Ryder Cup before 7,000 screaming spectators at Le Golf National.

The 14-time major champion snapped a five-year win drought last weekend to cap a successful comeback season from spinal fusion surgery and will be the star attraction when the biennial team showdown tees off Friday morning.

"It's going to be fun. It's going to be an awesome environment," Woods said.

"There's a lot of nerves. It's excitement. It's something we don't get to experience in that regard because basically it's the final round of a tournament on the very first hole and every match you tee it up.

"It's a different atmosphere and one that we absolutely love."
"I think this week will be exactly like that, but I think the decibels will be up a little higher."
"My overall Ryder Cup record, not having won as a player since 1999, is something that hopefully we can change. We haven't won as a US squad here in 25 years on foreign soil, so hopefully that will change this week, as well."
- Tiger-Phil duo unlikely -
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