Joe LaCava hints Tiger Woods may pick himself for Presidents Cup

Tiger Woods will likely decide whether or not he will pick himself as a captain's pick in the United States Presidents Cup side after he has competed in the ZOZO Championship in Japan, claims his caddie Joe LaCava. 

Woods, 43, will skipper the United States for the first time in his career when they tee up against Ernie Els' International side at the biennial Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 12 to 15.

LaCava, speaking to The Post-Crescent, confirmed Woods has yet to make a concrete decision on whether he will be a captain or a playing captain and that he will see how his form stacks up on the course over the coming weeks. 

"If I knew I would tell you, and if he knew he would tell us," LaCava told The Post-Crescent. 

"I think he wants to wait to see how he plays in Japan. I think he wants to see how the guys are playing outside the top eight between now and November 1 when he makes his picks."

Top top eight Americans to automatically make Woods' side are Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar and Bryson DeChambeau. 

Woods is next competing in Japan from October 24 to 27, and he will also tee up in the eagerly-anticipated Skins Game prior to the tournament against Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and home favourite Hideki Matsuyama.

The 15-time major champion will likely see where his game is at after that tournament. 

Should Woods not fancy picking himself as one of four captain's picks in early November, he thankfully has plenty of back-up options to add to the strength in depth of his 12-man team. 

American players that will be at the front of Woods' mind right now include Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Tony Finau, Gary Woodland, Kevin Na, Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner. 

Other players that may surprise for a pick include rising stars Colin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff. 

"Honestly, I think it's smart that he waits that long," said LaCava. "You want the hot players and you want the guys who are playing well at the time."

The eight automatics in Els' International side comprise of Matsuyama, Marc Leishman, Louis Oosthuizen, Adam Scott, Abraham Ancer, Haotong Li, CT Pan and Cameron Smith. 

Els will likely be considering four picks out of Day, Sung-jae Im, Joaquin Niemann, Justin Harding, Jazz Janewattananond, Branden Grace, Byeong-hun An, Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners.