Speculations about Tiger as captain, Scheffler injury-free, DP World Tour fun, and the Kordas. The Back Nine.
At the start of the year, a bit of speculation is allowed. Some disguise it as predictions, a popular discipline in early January. Colleagues from the renowned US portal The Fried Egg boldly suggested that the PGA of America will offer Tiger Woods the role of captain for the Ryder Cup 2027 in Ireland, but the 50-year-old would politely decline. He prefers to lead the US team when it is a home game. The GOAT as skipper for a continental contest on home soil would probably break all fan hype records in the USA.
Anyway, it would be Woods’ second refusal after already declining the 2025 event at Bethpage Black. This led to the appointment of Keegan Bradley, who since the 2012 Medinah loss and not being selected for Rome 2023, carries his third trauma. Still, it is an understandable decision for Tiger. Why give up the home advantage – even if statistically it barely exists – and risk a sports blunder away, when the chances are not great? The Americans last won in Europe in 1993 at The Belfry in England.
Furthermore, his counterpart at Adare Manor might be Luke Donald, who has already bested US captains twice. This again puts the PGA of America in a dilemma, as few candidates are suitable as captains. Hopefully, Keegan Bradley won’t get another chance – former Medinah loser Davis Love III did get a second chance in 2016, but that was at home. Well, some speculation is allowed… Among other thoughts from The Fried Egg: