Woods turns down Ryder Cup invite

Woods will miss the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky in September

Tiger Woods has turned down an invite from US Ryder Cup skipper Paul Azinger to act as a vice-captain for the match against Europe in September.

The world number one is out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery following his dramatic US Open win at Torrey Pines last month.

Woods said he would not do it because he is not on the team and insists the event is about the competitors.

"The guys will have plenty on their minds," he told his website.

"I wish them well and I'll be cheering loudly."

Despite his dominance in the game, Woods has been on the winning side just once in five Ryder Cups stretching back to 1997.

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The 14-time major champion is often accused of not caring about the event but he was the leading US scorer with three points out of five in the US's record-equalling 18½-9½ defeat at the K Club in Ireland in 2006.

In all, Woods has won 10, lost 13 and halved two of his 25 Ryder Cup matches.

The 2008 Ryder Cup, the 37th edition of golf's premier team event, will take place at Valhalla in Kentucky from 19-21 September.