The PGA of America is set to announce Team USA's next Ryder Cup captain on Tuesday, now that Tiger Woods is no longer expected to take on the role at Bethpage Black.
The announcement will be made at the NASDAQ building in New York, where new PGA of America president John Lindert will introduce the next captain, ending months of speculation and uncertainty over who will replace Jack Johnson.
Woods was “in talks” with the PGA of America about leading Team USA next September. Live on Sky SportsHe played eight matches as a player and one as vice-captain at Hazeltine in 2016.
Previously Team USA would select its captains at least 18 months in advance, a delay believed to have been due to discussions with Woods, while multiple reports have now suggested the 15-time major champion has declined to take on the role.
2009 Open champion Stewart Cink is one of the leading contenders for the position, while two-time Ryder Cup player Keegan Bradley has also emerged as another contender.
Fred Couples, who like Cink was vice-captain during last year's loss to Europe in Rome, could also be a candidate to replace Zach Johnson. Matt Kuchar, 2021 captain Steve Stricker and Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk are among the other options.
Woods refused to downplay rumors about a captaincy during his pre-tournament press conference at the Masters Tournament, though he had warned at the PGA Championship in May that he would not be able to do so because of other off-course responsibilities.
Tiger Woods is likely to miss out on Ryder Cup captaincy despite initially being the favourite for the job
“We're still in talks,” Woods told Valhalla. “I'm putting so much time into what I'm doing with the PGA Tour that I don't want to give up on that if I can't take on the captaincy role.
“All of that and representing Team USA and the commitment to the PGA of America, the players and the fans — I need to feel like I can put in the amount of time that it deserves.”
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Take a look at the best fancy dress from the Ryder Cup weekend including dinosaurs, astronauts, hot dogs and more!
Former PGA Tour caddie John Wood was named team manager for Team USA in May, having caddied for five different players in six Ryder Cups, served as team assistant during the 2018 loss at Le Golf National and served as on-course commentator at the last two championships.
Donald returns to Team Europe role
The biennial competition will be held from September 26-28 next year, with Team Europe entering as defending champions and looking to retain the title on American soil for the first time since their dramatic success at the 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012.
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Luke Donald discusses his motivations after being announced as Team Europe's Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 competition
Former world No. 1 Luke Donald will captain Europe for the second time, having led Europe to a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome last September. Donald won all four matches he played in the Ryder Cup and served as vice-captain in two editions.
Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari return to their roles as vice-captains, having been part of Donald’s backroom team in the 2023 triumph in Rome, while former Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley has been named as a strategic advisor.
Sky Sports will remain the home of the Ryder Cup, and all three days in 2025 will be broadcast exclusively live from September 26-28 next year. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more now,
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