Speculations about Tiger as captain, Scheffler safe this time, 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 popular discipline in early January. The colleagues from the renowned US portal The Fried Egg boldly suggested for the upcoming golf year that the PGA of America offers Tiger Woods the role of captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland, but the 50-year-old politely declines. He prefers to lead the US team when playing at home. The GOAT as skipper in a continental competition on home ground would probably create unprecedented fan hype in the US.
Anyway, it would be Woods’ second refusal, having already declined for 2025 at Bethpage Black. That led to the appointment of Keegan Bradley, who since the 2012 Medinah loss and omission for Rome 2023 carries a third trauma. However, it’s an understandable decision from Tiger. Why should he give up home advantage – though statistically practically nonexistent – and risk his reputation leading an away campaign with slim chances? The last US victory in Europe was 1993 at The Belfry, England.
Moreover, his counterpart at Adare Manor could be Luke Donald, who has elegantly outplayed the US skipper twice. This leaves the PGA of America with a dilemma, as few are willing to take the captaincy. Hopefully, Keegan Bradley won’t get another chance – Davis Love III, Medinah loser, got a second one in 2016, again at home. Well, speculation is allowed. The \”Fried Egg\” team also added other thoughts:
McIlroy and Teammate Keegan: It’s Complicated
An unusual situation: Boston Common won a Tomorrow’s Golf League match for the first time, thanks notably to putts from Michael Thorbjornsen, replacement for Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama. Last Friday at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, the \”Frogs\” faced Los Angeles and had a tense internal team situation. Rory McIlroy and teammate Keegan Bradley had to put on a brave face despite a strained relationship since the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
McIlroy was verbally attacked by US fans in harsh ways, while Bradley downplayed fan hostility as \”very passionate.\” Allegedly, they reconciled, but tensions resurfaced before Boston Common’s first appearance in the second TGL season. McIlroy expressed lingering resentment towards \”Captain Keegan\” for not addressing aggressive fans. The five-time major champion told the podcast \”The Overlap\” featuring Gary Neville and others: \”You have to use home advantage, but Keegan and company could have kept calm and played with the right attitude. Some did, but Keegan didn’t. As captain, he could have had the greatest impact but didn’t.\” On social media, the relationship status would be \”It’s complicated.\”
Scottie Scheffler Back in Action – Uninjured
No more holiday mishaps: Christmas is over, the new year started, and Scottie Scheffler survived the holidays without any household