Tiger Woods is a must-pick if America is to wrest the Ryder Cup back from Europe at Gleneagles in September.

That was the message to American skipper Tom Watson last night from Jack Nicklaus.

Woods has been struggling to rediscover his peak form following surgery for a pinched back nerve.

And he stuttered to find his touch at The Open, where he eventually finished third from last on the final day's play at Hoylake.

But Nicklaus remains convinced the former World No.1 can be a powerful part of the Americans' armoury when the battle gets underway.

The 18-time Major winner said: "I couldn't imagine Woods not being on a Ryder Cup team, unless he does absolutely nothing in recovering from his game between now and then."

Watson has also said he would like to pick Woods, but suggestedhe needs to show some form in his two remaining starts - next week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship - before the FedEx Cup play-offs.

Woods needs to average top-three finishes in those tournaments to qualify for the play-offs. If he does not make it, he would face a month off from PGA Tour golf before the Ryder Cup, which begins on September 27.

Nicklaus added: "I don't care what he does between now and then. If Tiger wants to play, I would certainly choose him. My guess is that Tom feels pretty much the same way.

"Tom would like to have Tiger on his team, and I think anybody in their right mind, unless he just doesn't want to play or doesn't think he could play, would not choose him."