PGA insider's humorous take on Tiger Woods turning down 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy
Tiger Woods allegedly turning down the captaincy of the U.S. team for the 2025 Ryder Cup has drawn varied reactions from the golf world. PGA member Keith Stewart had a humorous take on the situation.
In addition to being a member of the Professional Golf Association (PGA), Stewart is a golf expert and contributor to several media outlets. Hours after learning of Woods' alleged rejection, Stewart humorously pointed out the impact this could have on the reduction of ticket prices:
"Those of you following the @RyderCupUSA Cpt. story today, here's a different take. Tickets are currently $1k on StubHub. Should Tiger NOT be the Cpt., those tix may drop a little in price as a reaction. Be a good time to get in..."
The 2025 Ryder Cup will be played on American soil, specifically at the Bethpage Black Course in New York. Although the date has not yet been officially announced, the event is traditionally played in September.
The Telegraph reported that Tiger Woods has turned down the offer to captain the American team. Woods reportedly turned down the offer due to his involvement in the negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
The potential candidates for captain of Team USA for the Ryder Cup instead of Tiger Woods
The PGA of America, the entity that oversees the Ryder Cup on the American side, will announce on Tuesday, July 9, the captain of the American team for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The Telegraph report indicates that following Tiger Woods' alleged refusal, the names being considered are those of Major champions Stewart Cink, Fred Couples, and Davis Love III.
Hours later, however, Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig reported that another Major champion, Keegan Bradley, was in line to replace Woods.
Cink and Couples were part of five American Ryder Cup teams. The former has one win and the latter has two wins and a tie. Love III participated in six editions as a player (two victories) and in two as the non-playing captain (one victory). In contrast, Bradley has participated in two editions, both on the losing side.
In the most recent edition of the Ryder Cup (2023), the American team lost to Europe by 16.5 to 11.5. This edition took place in Italy for the first time in the history of the event.
The United States has not won on European soil since the 1993 edition, when the event was played at The Belfry, England. Since then, the event has returned to Europe seven times, always with a victory for the locals.
In contrast, Europe has won four editions on American soil since 1979, the year the event was opened to the entire European continent. Prior to that, the Ryder Cup was played between an American and British team.