Chris Wood keen to seal Ryder Cup spot on return from injury at Baltusrol

28 July 2016 07:23

Chris Wood expressed his relief at getting his bid for a Ryder Cup place back on track in the US PGA Championship, but will not be able to relax until his ticket to Hazeltine is guaranteed.

Wood was forced to withdraw from the Scottish Open with a neck injury and retired after 12 holes of the Open with the same problem, leaving his place in the European side in jeopardy.

However, the 28-year-old from Bristol was able to return to action at Baltusrol with an opening 69 and hopes to do enough here and in next week's Paul Lawrie Match Play event to make sure of an automatic qualifying place before getting married on August 20.

"It was a huge relief to be able to play pain-free after three and a half weeks of not being able to move my neck," the BMW PGA Championship winner said.

"The longest shot I'd hit before this week was a 100-yard pitch on Sunday so when I arrived I still didn't know whether or not I'd be able to hit a driver, which was a bit worrying.

"It was so bad at the Open; I know I played 12 holes but maybe I should count it as six because every swing was a half swing and I was carrying my driver 190 yards."

European captain Darren Clarke told Wood to "chill out and get fit" but the world number 24 said: "I managed to get fit but I'm not sure about chilling out. Darren can say what he wants but I'm one of those people who until my name is cemented, I'm not going to be able to relax."

Source: PA