Tiger Woods has revealed that he turned down the chance to captain Team USA in the 2025 Ryder Cup because he does not have the time.
But the 15-time major winner insists he is open to taking on the role in the future. Keegan Bradley was this week named the US captain for the 2025 match in New York.
‘With my new responsibilities to the Tour and time commitments involved, I felt like I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain,’ Woods said in a statement.
‘That does not mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future. If and when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide.’
Bradley, a shock choice for the captaincy, was unveiled on Tuesday. The world No 19 revealed he has told Woods that he can be as involved as he wants in next year’s match.
Tiger Woods turned down the chance to captain Team USA at next year’s Ryder Cup
It was revealed this week that Keegan Bradley will instead lead the USA in New York in 2025
But Bradley insisted he has yet to talk to the 48-year-old about being a vice captain as the USA eye revenge for last year’s drubbing in Rome.
Woods has played in eight Ryder Cups, with his debut coming back in 1997. He last appeared as a player in 2018.
The 48-year-old was a vice captain at Hazeltine in 2016 and Woods had held talks with the PGA of America about succeeding Zach Johnson next September.
He previously captained the United States to victory in the 2019 Presidents Cup but failed to reach a deal over next year’s showdown with Europe at Bethpage Black.
Team Europe confirmed back in November that Luke Donald would be return as captain, after leading Rory McIlroy and Co to a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome.
Woods cast doubt over his willingness to take the role back in May, citing his involvement in negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF.
Europe confirmed back in December that Luke Donald would be returning for a second term
The 15-time major winner guided the USA to victory in the Presidents Cup back in 2019
The 48-year-old, who has been front and center in the drawn-out talks, said ahead of the PGA Championship in May: ‘I’m dedicating so much time to what we’re doing with the PGA Tour, I don’t want to not fulfil the role of the captaincy if I can’t do it.’
He added: ‘What that all entails, representing team USA and the commitments to the PGA of America, the players and the fans, I need to feel that I can give the amount of time that it deserves.’
PGA of America chief Seth Waugh said at the time that the committee respected Woods’ other commitments.
‘We have had conversations for months,’ he revealed. ‘We have also had conversations at the Ryder Cup committee, multiple conversations about potential captains and a list of potential captains. Tiger, has been pretty clear.
‘I think we all know that he can be pretty focused, and that’s one of his many superpowers – that ability to 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 PGA Tour side of things.’
