SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) —

Fred Couples has told Tiger Woods that he decided to add him to the 12-member Presidents Cup team.  Couples took the drama out of the debate over whether Woods would be on the team, saying Thursday it’s already a done deal.

“I’ve told him that he’s going to be on the team,” Couples said just before a practice round preparing for the Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. “There is no reason for me to wait till Sept. 26 to pick Tiger.

He’s the best player in the world forever.” Ten players automatically qualify for the team based on points accumulated over the past two years. Couples is then given two captain’s picks to round out his squad, which

will compete against a team of non-European International players at Royal Melbourne in Australia on Nov. 14-20. Woods, who is 28th on the Presidents Cup list, had a long summer layoff because of soreness in

his left knee and left Achilles’ tendon. He played in two recenttournaments, finishing 37th in the Bridgestone Invitational in early August then missing the cut the following week at the PGA Championship.

Woods wrote on his website earlier this week that he had conversations with Couples about playing on the team and that “of course, I want to be on the team” that competes in Australia.