Ryder Cup legend backs Tiger Woods for US captaincy
As Luke Donald rounds up his cavalry for the next European charge at the Ryder Cup, the long waiting game with the United States and Tiger Woods continues.
Captain Donald has now announced Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari as assistants for next September’s match and he is understood to have planned an early scouting trip to Bethpage Black as part of his meticulous approach.
The preparations for the United States, however, are yet to even begin. The PGA of America haven’t finalised a captain for the New York showdown, with Woods still mulling over his decision.
“We’re still talking about it,” Woods said last week, confirming talks would take place after the Masters.
“It’s something that Seth [Waugh, the PGA of America chief executive] and I are going to sit back and talk about after this event. I said I’m going to be busy for a couple weeks, so let me focus on getting through this week and hopefully getting another jacket, and then we can sit back and talk about it next week.”
It has long been assumed that Woods may instead choose to take the captaincy at Adare Manor in 2027 given his close friendship with the luxury Irish resort’s owner, JP McManus.
After completing four tournament rounds for the first time in over three years at Augusta National, Woods outlined his desire once more to play the three remaining majors in 2024.
But despite possible playing distractions, he is still the leading candidate for the vacant post.
And Bernard Gallacher – the last European skipper to lead Europe in consecutive matches – is convinced a double appointment for Woods is just a matter of time.
“They’re just picking their moment to announce Tiger,” Gallacher told bunkered.co.uk. “Tiger is a special case. They want him to be captain at Bethpage. They need to get back winning and need to redeem themselves after playing so badly in Rome. He would be a great captain because the players of his generation would like to play well for Tiger.
“I think Tiger definitely wants to be the captain in Ireland as well. He’s friendly with JP McManus, he went to the opening of the new Adare Manor. That would mean he would have to captain for two matches and that might appeal to the PGA of America.”
Woods would doubtless raise the Ryder Cup‘s profile as back-to-back captain, but Gallacher believes the role could be just as important to the 48-year-old as he aims to publicise his new ‘Sun Day Red’ brand following his split from Nike.
“Commercially it would keep his brand there,” the 75-year-old Scot added. “Being a Ryder Cup captain, especially when he’s not playing on the course as often, would keep his brand there. He’s got his new own clothing and it would help for that. I’m sure his managers from behind are saying: ‘Tiger, this is a great opportunity for us to keep our brand up there for the next four years.”
Gallacher also questioned whether Woods would fancy the big four-year commitment at the helm.
“He’d be a great home captain for sure,” he stressed. “But the trouble is, if he wins in New York, he might then say I don’t want to be a captain in Ireland because I’ve already won it and I don’t want to go there and lose.”