Tiger Woods released a statement on the PGA of America explaining why he refused to captain the US Ryder Cup team.
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Ask anyone over the past nine months, and they would have told you that Tiger Woods is likely to be America's captain in the 2025 Ryder Cup.
With Woods publicly dodging questions about taking one of golf's top jobs, fans, analysts, and other professionals alike are all assuming Woods will lead the red, white and blue at Bethpage Black.
It wasn't until Monday that rumors began to spread that Woods had turned down the job. Then it became official that afternoon with the PGA's surprise announcement that Keegan Bradley had been named captain of the US team for 2025.
“I don't think I'll ever be so surprised in my entire life. I was, I didn't know. It took a while for it to sink in,” Bradley said at a press conference announcing his election Tuesday in New York City. “I have spoken to Tiger a lot. I spoke to him this morning on the phone. You have been very helpful. Tiger has been really helpful to me. He has a great voice to hear and he was nothing but — he always came to me and helped me, which was amazing.”
At the event, the PGA of America also read a statement from Woods explaining why he turned down the job.
“With my new duties at [PGA] Due to travel and time commitments, I realized that I would not be able to devote time to Team USA and the players needed as a captain,” said Woods. “That does not mean that I will not want to be the captain of the team in the future. If/when I think the time is right, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to make a decision.”
The last time Woods was asked about being captain of the Ryder Cup team was in May at the PGA Championship, where he confirmed that discussions were ongoing between him and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. But Waugh stepped down as head of the PGA last month after a six-year run at the helm when his contract was not renewed. Waugh and Woods are known to be close friends.
But even at Valhalla, Woods appeared to ignore his previous commitments interfering with captaincy.
“I dedicate a lot of my time to what we do with the PGA Tour, I don't want to not fulfill the role of captain if I can't,” said Woods speaking to the PGA. “That includes representing Team America and being committed to the PGA of America, the players and the fans and like I said, all of Team America.
“I need to feel that I can give it the time it deserves.”
Woods was appointed to the PGA Tour Policy Board as director of players in August to help reestablish player control over the body. Since then, he has been aggressively involved in what ended up being a multi-billion dollar investment by SSG and ongoing negotiations with the Saudi PIF.
In addition to his work with his company, TGR Ventures, through his company TGR Design that currently operates at least four courses, and his desire to continue competing in major tournaments, Woods finally decided to add the captaincy of the Ryder Cup. much to him.
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But Bradley also wouldn't rule out Woods serving as Ryder Cup vice-captain at Bethpage Black.
“I told him he can be as involved as he wants,” Bradley said. “We have never talked about the vice-captains, I have never really talked to anyone about the vice-captains. So we, as players, all look up to Tiger and his opinion means a lot to us. Being in the team room with Tiger, the public doesn't realize how important this is to him. That's all. He lives and breathes this event.
“I think it shows how much he cares about not withdrawing this position, because he felt that he could combine everything that he has to do in everything that is happening with the Tour. Thank you — before I accepted this job I needed to talk to Tiger and I wanted to make sure that — I wanted to hear from him. We had a nice chat. I really need his opinion.”
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