10-year professional career he has played only five majors, has never had a
top-30 finish in them — and did not even qualify for any of the four this season.
Tiger Woods looks certain to be one wild card despite the United States winning the last match without him and losing the previous three with him. Woods has come 12th and 11th in the first two play-off tournaments and while that means he has not had a top-10 placing in his last six starts — that has never happened to him before — he is still world No1.
Once again Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker missed the chance to topple him. Mickelson needed a top-three finish but slumped to 25th spot with a 76 and Stricker had to win and was ninth.
Asked if he was expecting a call from Pavin after his closing 68, Woods said: "We will see. Hopefully, he has my number!"
Luke Donald already has his wild card from Pavin's opposite number, Colin Montgomerie, but he also now has a sixth runners-up finish since his last win in America nearly five years ago.
The Englishman led by two after seven holes of his final round, but as Hoffman went into overdrive Donald went into reverse with a hat-trick of bogies from the 14th. At least he finished with two birdies to share second with Australians Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day.
