Tiger Woods has recently made a decision about potentially serving as the U.S. Ryder Cup team captain in 2025. According to The Telegraph, Woods has declined the opportunity to lead the U.S. team against Europe at Bethpage Black in Long Island, New York next year. The reason behind his decision is believed to be the time constraints and demands that come with being a team captain. Woods is currently involved in talks with the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Arabia backbone for LIV Golf, through the PGA Tour, and a potential merger could be on the horizon.
Having previously served as an assistant captain for the Ryder Cup team, many had speculated that Woods could be a possible choice for the 2025 captaincy. With his recent decision to decline, The Telegraph has mentioned Stewart Cink, a PGA Tour veteran, as a potential candidate for the role. Davis Love III and Fred Couples are also being considered for the captaincy, along with Keegan Bradley, who was controversially left off the U.S. team last year.
The U.S. team, led by Zach Johnson last year, faced a tough defeat against Europe in Rome during the Ryder Cup, with Europe ultimately emerging victorious with a score of 16 ½ to 11 ½. Despite Woods’ extensive experience in the Ryder Cup, his performance has been mixed, with a record of 13-21-3 in his matches. His last appearance in the tournament was in 2018 at Le Golf National, where he struggled with a 0-4-0 record.
In a recent interview with The Times’ Tom Kershaw, Cink expressed his understanding of Woods’ decision, citing the busy schedule of the PGA Tour and Woods’ numerous commitments as contributing factors. While Woods may not be taking on the role of captain in 2025, there are several other experienced candidates who could step up to lead the U.S. team to victory in the upcoming Ryder Cup.
