Speculations around Tiger as team captain, Scheffler unscathed, fun with DP World Tour and the Kordas. The Back Nine.
At the start of the year, a bit of speculation is allowed. Some disguise it as a prediction, a very popular discipline in early January. The colleagues from the renowned US portal The Fried Egg boldly suggest for the upcoming golf year: The PGA of America will offer Tiger Woods the captaincy for the Ryder Cup 2027 journey to Ireland, but the 50-year-old politely declines. He prefers to lead the US team when it’s played on home soil. The GOAT as skipper in a continental competition on his own turf would likely create unprecedented fan hype in the USA.
Anyway: This would be Woods’ second refusal after already declining for 2025 at Bethpage Black. This led to Keegan Bradley being appointed, who since the 2012 Medinah defeat and being overlooked for Rome 2023 carries the weight of a third trauma. It’s an understandable decision by Tiger. Why abandon home advantage – statistically non-existent as it may be – and risk tarnishing his sporting record in an away command mission with slim chances? The last time Americans won in Europe was 1993 at The Belfry in England.
Moreover, his opponent at Adare Manor could possibly be Luke Donald, who has thoroughly bested the US skipper twice already. This again poses a dilemma for the PGA of America, as few others are willing candidates for the team captain role. Hopefully, Keegan Bradley won’t be called upon again – Medinah loser Davis Love III famously got a second chance in 2016, but at home. So, some speculation is allowed… Additional thoughts from The Fried Egg: