Woods offers support to Green

Green's place is under threat following the gaffe that allowed the United States to equalise against England during their Group C opener in South Africa.

Woods, no stranger to a public outcry over his actions following revelations about his extra-marital affairs, empathised with Green when asked about the World Cup during his pre-US Open press conference.

When a reporter inquired what he made of the United States' draw with England, golf's world No 1 referred to the goal from Clint Dempsey, whose long-range shot slipped through Green's hands.

"That was a nice little gift on the goal there," replied Wood. "I hope he gets a chance to play and is not finished."

England's Lee Westwood, the world No 3, had been busy winning the St Jude Classic in Memphis when Green made his crucial error.

"Thankfully I didn't get a rain delay and I didn't have to watch it. By all accounts it was fairly average there. Mistakes happen. I've made them on the golf course, at spectacular times. You're not trying to do it, it's just one of those things," he said.