John Daly hopes for a late Ryder Cup role in 2027 and praises Tiger Woods as a potential U.S. team captain.
In an exclusive interview with Hard Rock Bet, John Daly shared his aspirations to be part of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2027. Despite being the only Major winner since the Ryder Cup’s inception in 1927 to never participate in the event, the 59-year-old still sees a chance to contribute as a captain or vice-captain. However, he admitted that his chances of being named captain for the 2027 edition at Adare Manor in Ireland are slim.
Tiger Woods as Ryder Cup captain?
“I’d love to be captain one day, but that’s probably never going to happen,” Daly said. Still, he continued to dream, expressing his support for Tiger Woods as a potential captain. Daly also said he could see himself being part of the team in some capacity. “Tiger would be an incredible captain,” he added. “I’d love to be a vice-captain or just somehow be involved with the team.”
While Daly’s bid for a vice-captain role may seem far-fetched, his presence could bring a more relaxed and spirited dynamic to the American squad. “I’d love to bring my ideas and hopefully help the guys,” Daly said. “It would be a dream come true, something I’ve wanted ever since I won the PGA Championship in 1991.” He also mentioned he felt he should have been selected for the team twice, but “it just didn’t happen.”
Patriotism drives Daly’s Ryder Cup dream
For Daly, any role with the Ryder Cup team would be a meaningful consolation, especially given his strong patriotic beliefs. “I think our team just needs to come together more like a family and fully stand behind the United States of America, rather than thinking about what we get out of it personally,” he said. “I just want the Ryder Cup trophy.”
John Daly remains one of the most beloved figures in American golf. Known for his massive drives, he won two Majors: the PGA Championship in 1991 and the Open Championship in 1995. Nicknamed “Long John,” Daly is still the only Major winner never to have played in a Ryder Cup. Despite his reputation as golf’s “enfant terrible”—famously drinking beer and chain-smoking during his first Major appearance—his patriotic spirit has not gone unnoticed in the U.S.