Woods not automatic Ryder Cup pick says captain Pavin

Woods has struggled for form since his return to the sport

Tiger Woods is not guaranteed an automatic place for the Ryder Cup clash with Europe at Celtic Manor, says United States captain Corey Pavin.

Woods, who has struggled since taking a five-month break, is 11th in the points race with only eight players guaranteed to play, while Pavin gets four picks.

"I'm not going to treat Tiger any different - he's certainly not going to be an automatic pick," said Pavin.

"I'd love to have him on the team but I want him to be playing well."

Woods has played only three tournaments since returning to the sport after his self-imposed exile following his well-publicised personal problems late last year.

Two weeks ago he pulled out of the final round of the Players Championship at Sawgrass with a neck injury.

Although Pavin has not spoken to the 14-time major winner this year, he said there was still plenty of time for Woods to qualify with the Ryder Cup still more than four months away - the biennial encounter takes place between 1 and 3 October.

Despite his major wins, Woods has not enjoyed the best of fortunes at the Ryder Cup with a record of 10 wins, 13 losses and two halves from five events.

He has been on the winning team only once, in 1999, and was absent recovering from knee surgery when the Americans ended a nine-year drought by winning the event in 2008.