Tiger Woods reveals why he turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy and backs Keegan Bradley in the role

Tiger Woods shows solidarity with Keegan Bradley as he opens up on his decision to decline the captaincy.

The 15-time Major champion explains why he rejected the chance to captain Team USA in the Ryder Cup captain at Bethpage in 2025 and hopes to take the role in the future.

With last week’s announcement that Keegan Bradley would be taking the reins of the 2025 US Ryder Cup team, Tiger Woods explained why he decided to turn down the captaincy as he faced the media ahead of The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The decision was not one the 48-year-old took lightly but his involvement in PIF negotiations and with TGL due to kick off in 2025, Woods said he could give the role the time and dedication it needs to ensure he’s successful.

“I just didn’t feel like I would be doing the captaincy or the players in Team USA justice if I was the captain with everything that I have to do.”

Tiger was assigned as a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board to help re-establish player control of the body. He has since taken a forceful role in negotiating the multi-billion-dollar deal with SSG and the ongoing negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

“The decision was very difficult for me to make. My time has been loaded with the Tour and everything we’re trying to accomplish. I’m on so many different subcommittees which take so much time in the day, and I’m always on calls.

“I told Seth Waugh (CEO of The PGA of America) that I just didn’t feel like I could do the job properly. I couldn’t devote the time. I barely had enough time to do what I’m doing right now and to add to that, TGL starts next year, as well as the Ryder Cup. You add all that together and then with our negotiations with the PIF, all that concurrently going on at exactly the same time, there are only so many hours in the day.”

Team USA shocked the golfing world by appointing World No.19 Keegan Bradley as their captain last week – a move that the 38-year-old admitted had come as a surprise to him when he faced the media in New York last week.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be more surprised by anything in my entire life,” the Major champion said. “I had no idea. It took a while for it to sink in.

“I’ve spoken to Tiger a bunch. I spoke to him this morning on the phone. He’s been very helpful. Tiger has always been really helpful to me. He’s a great voice to hear and he’s been nothing but — he’s been reaching out to me helping me, which has been amazing.”

Woods wouldn’t divulge whether he’d accept a vice-captain’s role within Bradley’s team if asked, but he did back him to be successful in the role as Team USA look to recover from their disappointing defeat in Rome and regain the trophy. No team has lost a match on home soil since Europe pulled off the Miracle at Medinah in 2012.

“I think Keegan is going to be a great leader,” Woods said. “He’s very passionate about what he does. He’s very passionate about the event. I think that this is going to be probably a turnover year for us for the captaincies, whether it’s the captain itself or his vice-captains. I think this is the natural progression, one we’ve been looking forward to, and I think it’s that year.”

Woods is already firm favorite to lead Team USA at the following Ryder Cup in Ireland in 2027 when Adare Manor will play host. The resort is owned by JP McManus, who is a close personal friend of Woods, and the former World No.1 played in the JP McManus Pro-Am at the venue in 2022.

“I’ll put my hat in the ring again when I have more time and I feel like I can devote myself to a Ryder Cup,” Woods concluded.

About the Author

Will Shreeve-Peacock – Golf Equipment Writer

Will is an expert in golf shoes, GPS watches, rangefinders, and training aids.

He has a degree in journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and four years’ experience working in golf retail with American Golf where he was trained by a host of the big-name manufacturers.

A six-handicapper, Will has played golf for more than a decade and is a member at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincolnshire.