Tiger Woods may have rejected Team USA’s captaincy but that doesn’t mean he won’t have a hand in this month’s Ryder Cup.
Golf fans had clung to hopes that the 15-time major winner would lead the Americans into battle at Bethpage Black before he ultimately turned down the offer last year, citing existing commitments.
Yet, they will be glad to discover that the 49-year-old reportedly has still been playing a role in Keegan Bradley’s team.
The golfing icon has stepped into an advisory role as the Americans’ showdown with the Europeans approaches, according to Golf.com.
‘He’s being consulted,’ a team source told the outlet, referring to Woods. ‘And I know he feels like he’s a part of Keegan’s decisions and how he’s thinking about it, and Keegan has been hugely respectful of that.
‘Without giving [Woods] an outsized role, I think it’s been balanced and kind of appropriate. He’s been sort of an informal advisor or Dutch uncle.’
Tiger Woods has reportedly stepped into an advisory role for Team USA at the Ryder Cup
Keegan Bradley was appointed Team USA’s captain after Woods turned down the role
Woods is said to have given his approval of Bradley’s captain picks, which were unveiled last week, complementing his ‘amazing’ press conference.
In the buildup to lats week’s announcement, there had been great speculation that Bradley could name himself to his squad as a playing captain given his form on the PGA Tour this year.
While he ultimately opted not to, it was not a decision he made without deliberation and Woods, who was a playing captain at the 2019 President’s Cup, was on hand as a sounding board.
Bradley revealed at the Open Championship in July that he had consulted with Woods about the dilemma. ‘During this process, he’s been one of the most helpful people that I’ve had,’ he said.
Woods guided the USA to a win during the 2019 edition of the Presidents Cup – as captain and their best player – having used a captain’s pick on himself.
He has played in eight Ryder Cups, competing in 37 matches and finishing with a career record of 13 wins, 21 defeats and three halves.
He’s also already performed leadership duties, having been an assistant captain at Hazeltine in 2016.
And this year, is not the first time that Woods has adopted a behind-the scenes within Team USA.
The 15-time major winner guided the USA to a win during the 2019 Presidents Cup
While he has not been present at the past two Ryder Cups at Whistling Straits and Marco Simone, Woods has still had an impact.
Woods, a man who bleeds red, white and blue, has 15 majors to his name and a treasure trove of Ryder Cup experience, is someone any American would want in their corner – something Zach Johnson gladly took him up on at the 2023 edition.
Ahead of the defeat in Rome, Johnson revealed that Woods would be on call for his wise counsel should Team USA require his expertise.
‘He is a great resource,’ Johnson said of Woods. ‘He’s very invested in Team USA, very invested in how we navigate year in and year out Team USA because the guy is patriotic, he wants to win, he’s got experience and, shocker, he’s the best player in whatever decades. Thankfully, he’s an American. He is red white and blue, through and through.
‘Personally speaking, I could show you the text messages he and I have had … a lot of them are so great in support and belief and faith. I got to tag along with him as a vice captain in his captainship in Australia, and the man knows what he is talking about … he’s amazing, and he will continue to be a part of Team USA going forward. He will not be in Rome, which is fine, it’s probably not wise, it was more or less his decision, but he’s great counsel.’
He was also absent from the USA’s 19-9 massacre at the 2021 tournament at Whistling Straits but still managed to deliver one of the most rousing rallying cries.
Woods became the ultimate motivator, sending text messages to his fellow countrymen to encourage them to the dominant victory from the comfort of his couch.
Zach Johnson revealed that Woods was also on call for the Americans at the 2023 Ryder Cup
One of the messages contained a particularly violent mental image to inspire his compatriots. With the USA having already established a significant 11-5 lead over Europe heading into Sunday singles, Woods texted captain Steve Stricker: ‘Now step on their necks.’
Woods continued his couch captaining in 2022 during the Presidents Cup as he acted as Love III’s extra pair of eyes.
Again absent from Quail Hollow, Woods regularly called the American captain to chip in with advice.
‘He’s spoken to a lot of people on the team,’ Love said at the time. ‘I was standing there on sixth tee for like an hour, a long time, so I called him and we talked for a while. And I said, well, at least you’re watching on TV. Call us if you see anything.’
