Earlier this year, Tiger Woods said he and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh were going to talk after the 2024 Masters about his potential Ryder Cup captain candidacy for the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York.
At the recent 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Woods was asked once again about his status for the biennial bash against Team Europe next year.
“We’re still talking. There’s nothing that has been confirmed yet. We’re still working on what that might look like. Also whether or not I have the time to do it. I’m dedicating my so much time to what we’re doing with the PGA Tour, I don’t want to not fulfill the role of the captaincy if I can’t do it,” said Woods, who’s on the board for both PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises. He’s also on a subcomittee to negotiate a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. “What that all entails and representing Team USA and the commitments to the PGA of America, the players, and the fans and as I said, all of Team USA. I need to feel that I can give the amount of time that it deserves.”
“We have had conversations for months. We have also had conversations at the Ryder Cup Committee, multiple conversations about potential captains and a list of potential captains,” said Waugh in response to Woods at the PGA. “You know, Tiger, he’s been pretty clear. I think we all know that he can be pretty focused, and that’s one of his many superpowers is that ability to sort of tunnel and decide. And he doesn’t do anything that he’s not fully committed to, and we totally respect that. And he’s got a lot on his plate right now. He’s very active, obviously, on the Tour side of things. We want to give him and the committee space to decide, you know, decide how it plays out.”
Woods has long been thought to be a guarantee to captain the Americans on Long Island, but his comments, as well as those made by Waugh, don’t inspire much confidence. Waugh said putting an artificial date or timeline on the decision isn’t something the organization will do, but did say he and Woods would “re-engage” soon.
So, if Woods won’t be the guy guiding Team USA at Bethpage, who will? Here’s a list of some other potential candidates to captain the U.S. squad at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Team USA captain Steve Stricker poses with Ryder Cup after the United State beat Europe for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
While Stricker’s playing career in the biennial bash doesn’t inspire much confidence, he did lead the team as captain in 2021 to a historic rout of the Europeans, 19-9, in his home state of Wisconsin at Whistling Straits. Stricker, 57, also served four times as a vice captain (2014, 2016, 2018, 2023) and was a part of the Task Force established to reinvent how the team was selected. He also won the 2017 Presidents Cup as captain of Team USA, and was an assisant captain against the Internationals (2015, 2019, 2022). He’s experienced, knows what it takes to win in the States and would be an easy selection.
Vice-captain Fred Couples of team United States looks on prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 21, 2021 in Haven, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Couples, 64, has never taken the reigns of Team USA in the Ryder Cup, but he is 3-0 as captain of the Red, White and Blue in the Presidents Cup (2009, 2011, 2013). He’s served as a Presidents Cup assistant captain four times and as a Ryder Cup vice captain three times (2023, 2021, 2012), but doesn’t have a strong connection to this young crop of American players. He would be a safe hire, but not an exciting one.
Stewart Cink, Vice Captain of Team United States poses for a photograph during the United States Team Portraits at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
This is an interesting option. Cink was brought into the fold as a vice captain last year in Rome and has undergone the vetting process for a potential future captaincy. Not only that, he told SI at the 2023 PNC Championship he wants the job.
“I do want to be the captain and think I can be. But with all due respect to Tiger Woods, I think it’s up to him,’’ said Cink. “I haven’t been told anything. And no one has mentioned one thing to me. But I know I can do it. And I know I would love to do it. Especially after being an assistant at the last Ryder Cup.
“Knowing what it’s like to be there again after having basically nothing to do with the Ryder Cup—not by any choice of my own—for the last 13 years … to get back into it, really got my juices flowing again.”
At 51 years old, Cink would be the youngest option, and aside from Woods and Stricker, he probably has the best relationships with the players. He’ll get knocked for his lack of experience leading a team, but as a five-time player, he knows what it means to play in the event, and could be a sneaky good hire.
Team USA vice-captain Phil Mickelson reacts to the gallery on the fifth green during day one four-ball matches for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
Just kidding. That bridge got burnt to the ground a few years ago, and seeing as the game isn’t any closer to uniting, we’ll just move on (even though Lefty has the record for appearances by an American with 12, was on the infamous Task Force and vice captain in 2021).
Captain Davis Love III of the United States holds the Ryder Cup at the closing ceremonies after defeating Europe during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club on October 2, 2016 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/PGA of America via Getty Images)
Love’s history with the U.S. squad is impressive: Task Force member, Ryder Cup captain in 2012 (loss) and 2016 (win) and a vice captain in 2010, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Not to mention his 2022 Presidents Cup captaincy and three years as an assistant (2017, 2015, 2013). But as the squad gets younger, the 60-year-old may have aged out of Team USA leadership. He’s on the list, but he’s certainly not at the top.
Furyk, 54, has to be mentioned given his connection to the team from the Task Force to his three vice captaincies (2016, 2021, 2023) and captaincy in 2018, as well as his two stints as an assistant Presidents Cup captain (2015, 2017), but it’s doubtful he’ll be seriously considered. The Americans got blown out in France in 2018 and Furyk clearly didn’t connect with the players. A vice captain? Sure. A captain? Don’t think so.
Zach Johnson looks on from the 15th hole during day one fourballs round for the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
If his performance and antics at the last Ryder Cup weren’t damning enough, the pair of Full Swing episodes certainly didn’t help Johnson’s case for a future captaincy. The Americans were embarrassed in Rome, and while Johnson is close with a few players, there’s just no way the U.S. can call his name again.
The team has to start looking at future options seeing how the above choices (Cink and Woods aside) are aging out of the competition. Is Kuchar, 45, direct and vocal enough to be a leader? We really don’t know seeing as he’s only served as a vice captain once in 2018. He hasn’t even been tested in the Presidents Cup, either. That said, he’s got experience in the event, he’s been part of an American win and is still around on Tour enough to know the guys who will be playing. He most likely won’t get the nod in 2025, but he could be in the mix for future Cups.
Rickie Fowler looks on as J.B. Holmes, Erica Holmes, Jimmy Walker, Erin Walker, Jordan Spieth, Annie Verret, Justine Reed and Patrick Reed celebrate during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club on October 2, 2016 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
There’s no way around it, Fowler has underperformed in the event (1-5-0 in his last two appearances), was a captain’s pick in 2023 and had the worst win percentage of any player on that squad. He can absolutely still compete any given week on the PGA Tour, but it’s time for the 35-year-old to put down the club and pick up the earpiece for the Ryder Cup. He’s exactly what this team needs. A captain that other player’s not only like, but also respect, that can grow and lead a team. He should at the very least be a vice captain in 2025.
