The U.S. Ryder Cup team has yet to announce a captain for next year’s matches at Bethpage Black. In the meantime, we now know the American squad will have a team manager.
The PGA Ryder Cup Committee announced on Wednesday the creation of a new position that will be filled by former caddie John Wood. And it appears that whoever is the next Team USA captain will have a lot less to worry about.
“Beginning with the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Wood will work closely with the U.S. team captain, vice captains, team members and PGA of America senior management on all strategic and operational matters related to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team,” according to the Ryder Cup’s official website.
Wood caddied for four different players (Mark Calcavecchia, Chris Riley, Hunter Mahan, and Matt Kuchar) in six Ryder Cups. He also worked as a Team USA assistant in 2018.
Since retiring from caddying, Wood has worked as an on-course reporter for NBC Sports beginning in 2021. He covered both the 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cups.
Wood called this new opportunity a “dream job” in a statement, but said he will continue to work for NBC Sports as well.
“There is nothing, and I mean nothing, in my professional career, that I have been more passionate about than the Ryder Cup,” said Wood. “I have been blessed to be a part of six Ryder Cup Teams as a caddie and two as an NBC Sports on-course reporter and I have treasured every single minute of those special, memorable experiences. I am honored to work alongside my friends from the PGA of America, the PGA Ryder Cup Committee, and future Ryder Cup Captains, Vice Captains and team members to help our Captains and teams get ready to compete in one of the greatest sporting events the world has ever seen. I am grateful to NBC Sports for making it possible for me to take on this role, truly a dream job.”
Tiger Woods has been rumored as the frontrunner to be the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain. However, the 15-time major champ said ahead of this month’s PGA Championship that he was unsure if he’d “have the time to do it” with his roles on the boards of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises in addition to playing—and his position on the tour’s transaction team dealing with a potential deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. We’ll have to wait and see if having a team manager affects Woods’ decision.
Luke Donald will be returning as captain for Team Europe following their win in Italy over Zach Johnson’s squad last fall. The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 26-28 at Bethpage Black.
