I'd be no good to Ryder Cup team like this admits Woods

Unless there is a dramatic improvement at Whistling Straits it really does look open to doubt whether Woods will be at Celtic Manor in October.

The only good thing that he could take out of the worst four-round performance of his entire career last week was that it did not cost him the world No 1 spot.

That was only because Phil Mickelson, needing a top-four finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio to topple Woods, managed only 46th after a terrible closing 78.

But Mickelson's late demise still did not come close to the meltdown suffered by the man who has been at the head of the rankings for the last 270 weeks and for 612 weeks in all.

Woods was joint 78th out of 80 in a tournament he had won on his previous four attempts and a record seven times in all – and nowhere before has he handed in an 18-over-par total.

America's Ryder Cup qualifying race ends at Whistling Straits this Sunday. Woods is 10th on the table, but only the leading eight earn automatic places.

Like predecessor Paul Azinger, Pavin is to take three weeks before naming his four wild cards. But no matter how much he might want Woods – and that is debatable given how well Azinger's side did without him – the big question is how much Woods wants to play.

The match has never been a priority for him and with his mind seemingly elsewhere and his form at an all-time low, albeit with the contest still seven weeks away, it would be no great surprise to see Woods opt out. Asked if he wanted to play, he replied before leaving Akron: "Not playing like this, definitely not, not playing like this.

"I mean, I wouldn't help the team if I'm playing like this. No one would help the team if they're shooting 18 over par."

On whether he would pick himself Woods said: "I think I can turn it around, but we've got a lot of time between now and then, which is good."

After taking four months off after his sex scandal came to light last November another extended break cannot be ruled out.

"I don't know," he commented when that possibility was put to him. "I'm just going to be ready for Thursday."

Hunter Mahan won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational by two strokes on 12 under following a final-round 64.

Mahan's bogey-free 64 earned a two-shot victory over Ryan Palmer, who carded a 69.