Ryder Cup: Woods is determined to restore pride for US side IT WAS there in black and white, on the wall behind where he was sitting. America's recent record of one victory in the last five matches in the Ryder Cup is pretty dire and Tiger Woods certainly didn't need to turn round to have that confirmed to him. In six appearances in the event, Woods has only been on the winning side once - at the infamous "Battle of Brookline" in 1999. For most of his Ryder Cup career, Woods was the world No 1, the man the Americans were looking to lead them to victory. Yet, from a total of 29 matches, his strike rate is less than 50 per cent, having 14 points to his name. Before heading out for his first practice session at Medinah, where he's won two USPGA Championships - 1999 and 2006 - Woods was asked if he felt any "personal responsibility" for America faring so badly in this event at a time when he was the game's dominant force. "Well, certainly I am responsible for that because I didn't earn the points I was put out there for," said the 36-year-old in one of his more open admissions. I was out there in five sessions each time and I didn't go 5-0 on our side. I needed to get my points for my team and I didn't do that. Hopefully I can do that this week and, hopefully, the other guys on the team do the same and we can get this thing rolling. The Americans certainly got it rolling at Brookline. Trailing 10-6 heading into the last-day singles, Ben Crenshaw's side turned it around to win 14½-13½. Woods was among those who delivered points, beating Andrew Coltart, who'd been brought in cold on the final day by European captain Mark James, by 3 and 2. "I've never been part of anything like that," recalled Woods. I think I was the fourth or fifth match out and to be part of that early rush was something I will never forget. It wasn't that we were just winning those matches, we were winning them by such huge margins. We were just blowing these matches out, which added to the atmosphere. There was birdie after birdie and we were just rolling. I've never seen a comeback like that in team golf. Woods, who was sidelined through injury when Paul Azinger led the Americans to victory at Valhalla four years ago, is desperate to be a Ryder Cup winner again. He's hoping Chicago can be his lucky city again - in addition to those two USPGA Championships, he's also won five times at Cog Hill (three Western Opens and a brace of BMW Championships) - and believes the presence of former Chicago Bulls basketball player Michael Jordan in the American team room this week can help bring out the best in him and his team-mates. "I've always enjoyed playing in Chicago and, for some reason, I've had a lot of success here," he commented. I don't know what it is but I seem to be very comfortable here. This is a great sporting town - they just love sport. For us to come here and to be part of a US team, it is just going to add to that. We are going to have a great atmosphere here and it's going to be a lot of fun. On Jordan, Woods recalled how his first encounter with one of America's sporting legends had left him with a hangover. "He fed me some beverages and the next day I was a little bit more difficult that I would have liked it to be," he said, smiling. But I still did some really good numbers that day and made an eagle on the last hole to win - that certainly felt good. I consider Michael like my big brother because I have got to know him so well over the years. He is one of the greatest athletes to ever live and he wants to be part of golf and be part of this event. For us, that's incredible. I may take that for granted but for some of the other guys, those who don't know them, it's a real treat for them. Woods, of course, knows very well what it's like to be a marked man in golf. For most of his career, he's been the player everyone wanted to beat. According to both Paul Azinger, the winning US captain four years ago, and Jim Furyk, one of Woods" team-mates here, Rory McIlroy is that marked man this week. "It's part of being consistent, being ranked No 1 and winning major championships," said Woods in reply to being asked what it felt like to be targeted in a Ryder Cup. You are always going to want to try to take out their best player. That's part of the deal and it's a fun challenge. I have certainly relished it over the years and I am sure he [McIlroy] is going to relish it this week. Asked if them appearing to have become new best friends had extended to Woods offering McIlroy any advice about what to expect this week, he added: "Obviously not as he's playing for the other side - but we can talk about it afterwards."