AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy is a big one for the United States team. Coming off the disappointment of Rome, the U.S. squad is in search of a leader to help secure a victory at Bethpage. It appears the U.S. team might go to the most recognizable figure in the game.
Sources tell Golf Digest that the 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy is Tiger Woods’ position to take if he wants it. Woods was asked about it during his Tuesday press conference and said he would discuss the position with PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh next week.
“We're still talking about it,” Woods said Tuesday with a grin. “It's something that Seth and I are going to sit back and talk about it 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 should be no surprise the PGA of America would ask the game’s biggest star to take the role. Zach Johnson, who led the U.S. to the 16.5-11.5 loss to the Europeans at Marco Simone, said last year that he was in “constant communication” with Woods in Rome despite Woods not being able to fly with the team. Woods captained the 2019 Presidents Cup team to victory in Royal Melbourne and served as an assistant captain for the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2018.
Phil Mickelson was believed to be a possible candidate for the U.S. team at Bethpage, but given Mickelson's divisive role in professional golf's civil war—along with gambling allegations detailed by Mickelson's former friend, Billy Walters, in a book last summer—Mickelson is unlikely to receive a look. Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell Golf Digest that Stewart Cink will receive consideration should Woods pass on the role.
If Waugh and Woods discuss the position next week, we might expect there to be an announcement some time in the next few months, now that Woods has let it out of the bag.
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