Tiger Woods weighs offer to captain 2027 US Ryder Cup team | Golf

Tiger Woods has confirmed he has been asked to captain the US team at next year’s Ryder Cup. Woods, who hasn’t played competitively since the 2024 Open Championship, also semi-remarkably left the door open to play in the Masters this year.

With the United States still reeling from their defeat to Europe in Bethpage in September, thoughts are turning to attempts to win back the Ryder Cup in Ireland. Woods is the PGA of America’s top pick as captain. The 50-year-old will determine whether he thinks he can commit sufficiently to this role.

“They asked my opinion and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods said. “I’m trying to understand what we’re trying to do with our [PGA] tour. It leads to hours and hours every day of me trying to figure out if I can actually do… our U.S. team, our players and everyone who will be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.

“Being on two boards and doing what I do for the PGA Tour, I’m trying to figure out if I can actually do this and serve the people involved and serve them at an honorable level.”

Woods has a long-standing alliance with JP McManus, the owner of the Ryder Cup venue at Adare Manor. Europe has yet to confirm his captaincy plans for 2027, but Luke Donald is expected to remain in position for a third consecutive Ryder Cup. Needless to say, the PGA Tour will want to prevent Woods’ decision-making process from turning into a saga.

The 15-time major winner is part of a PGA Tour committee that will soon reshape the tournament schedule. “I thought I spent a lot of hours training in my prime,” he said. “It doesn’t even compare to what we did in the meeting room. It’s been a challenge. We’re trying to do the right thing.”

Woods was speaking in Los Angeles, where he is host of the Genesis Invitational tournament. He underwent disc replacement surgery on his back last October. So it was a surprise to hear his response when asked if Augusta National and an appearance at the Masters in less than two months were off the cards. “No,” Woods said.

“My body has been through a lot. It’s just one of those things where it’s every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working at it, I’m trying to get stronger, I’m trying to get more endurance in this body and I’m trying to get to a level where I can play at the highest level again.”