The PGA of America is set to announce the next captain for the U.S. Ryder Cup team on Tuesday, with Tiger Woods no longer expected to captain Bethpage Black.
At the Nasdaq Building in New York, the new PGA chairman John Lindert will make the announcement, putting an end to months of speculation and uncertainty about who will succeed Zach Johnson.
Woods has been in “negotiations” with the PGA of America to lead the U.S. PGA team next September. Live on Sky SportsHe made eight appearances for Hazeltine as a player and one as vice-captain in 2016.
Team USA has previously chosen a captain at least 18 months in advance, and the delay was believed to have been due to discussions with Woods, although multiple reports have suggested the 15-time major champion declined to take on the captaincy.
2009 Open champion Stuart Cink is one of the leading candidates for the position, while two-time Ryder Cup winner Keegan Bradley has also emerged as another contender.
Keegan Bradley competed in the Ryder Cup in 2012 and 2014, but unfortunately did not qualify for the 2023 edition.
Fred Couples, who served as vice-captain in last year's loss to Europe in Rome, like Cink, could also be a candidate to succeed Zach Johnson. Matt Kuchar, 2021 captain Steve Stricker and Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk are other candidates.
Woods did not dismiss the captaincy rumors at his pre-Masters press conference, but was warned that he may not be able to captain the PGA Championship in May because of his off-course commitments.
Tiger Woods is expected to lose his chance to captain the Ryder Cup, having initially been tipped as a frontrunner for the job.
“We're still talking,” Woods explained at Valhalla. “I'm putting so much time into what I do on the PGA Tour that I don't want to step up and do the captain's role if I can't do it.
“With all that it entails and representing Team USA and committing to the PGA Tour, the players and the fans – I have to feel like I can give it the time it deserves.”
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Check out the coolest costumes from Ryder Cup weekend, featuring dinosaurs, astronauts, hot dogs and more!
Former PGA Tour caddie John Wood was named team manager for Team USA in May, where he caddied for five players in six Ryder Cup appearances, served as a team assistant during the team’s loss at Le Golf National in 2018 and was a course commentator for the last two tournaments.
Donald returns to European team role
The biennial event is scheduled to take place from September 26-28 next year, with the European team entering as the defending champions and looking to retain US territory for the first time since their dramatic success in the 2012 'Miracle of Medina'.
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Luke Donald discusses his motivations after being announced as Team Europe Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 tournament.
World number one Luke Donald will captain Europe for the second time after their 16.5-11.5 win in Rome last September. Donald has won all four Ryder Cups he has competed in and served as vice-captain in two tournaments.
Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari, who were part of Donald’s backroom team that won in Rome in 2023, are back in the vice-captain role, while former Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley has been appointed strategic adviser.
Sky Sports will be the home of the Ryder Cup, with all three events in 2025 broadcast live exclusively from September 26-28 next year. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more on NOW.
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