Tiger wants increased 2006 Ryder Cup role

Tiger Woods wants to be made a playing vice-captain for the next U.S. Ryder Cup team and also suggests a change in selection policy to halt their losing run.

The 28-year-old world number two endured another miserable performance in an 18 1/2-9 1/2 defeat by Europe in Michigan this month, the fourth U.S. loss in five matches.

Woods, widely criticised in the American media for not caring enough about the biennial team event, suggested in The Times on Wednesday he should have more say in the running of the team for the next match in Ireland in 2006.

"What I would like is to work with the captain on the pairings and team strategy and working on the whole concept of bringing the team together and doing what I can to make our team successful at the end of the week," he said.

"I basically kind of do that now but if I were a vice-captain it would have an official role."

Woods also suggested a two-year qualifying period for the U.S. team was too long and he wanted them to adopt the European system of a 12-month qualification.

"To get the true team that's playing the best we're going to have a to go to a one-year period, like the Europeans do," he said.

"If you back to Kiawah (in 1991) Island, Wayne Levi won four tournaments in 1990 and could barely make a cut in 1991 and he was on the team.

"I don't think that's the way to send your 12 best players out."

His own pairing with U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson flopped badly with two defeats on the opening day.

But Woods insisted captain Hal Sutton had not been at fault to partner his two top players. "I think I would have (used the pairing) because we were excited about playing together," Woods, an eight-times major winner, said.

"We were both playing well going into the event...but we just didn't get it done. It happens."

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