Michael Dwyer / AP

Tiger Woods holds up his ball after making par on the 17th hole in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.

Woods, who retained the No. 1 world ranking for the 274th consecutive week Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship, became an obvious selection once he said at the PGA Championship that he wanted to be part of the team. He has been accused of being indifferent toward the Ryder Cup, and his career record of 10-13-2 is the one flaw in an impeccable career inside the ropes.

He will be going to Wales on his own — his divorce was approved two weeks ago — and no longer cutting such an invincible figure.

Woods has failed to win since returning at the Masters, although he appears headed in the right direction. He posted three rounds in the 60s at the Deutsche Bank Championship for the first time all year.

"Whether I was a person who was picked or a person who earned their way on the squad, it doesn't change the overall goal," Woods said. "It's still the same. And that's to go over there and win."

Europe's team has six Ryder Cup rookies — Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, Peter Hanson, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher and PGA champion Martin Kaymer — along with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jimenez and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.

Zach Johnson won the Colonial in May, and the former Masters champion had been coming on strong in recent weeks. He finished one shot out of the playoff at the PGA Championship, and kept himself in the mix at the tour's playoff events. Cink, who won the British Open at Turnberry last year, has been making slow progress in recent months.

"What was important to me is who I thought could play well in that environment over in Wales," Pavin said. "That was my first criteria. Obviously, I like guys that are playing well, and that's important. I wanted to find guys that round off the team and make it a team of 12, not 12 individuals that are great players."