Tiger Woods makes shock Ryder Cup claim during Hero World Challenge

Tiger Woods raised eyebrows in the media centre at Albany on Tuesday after revealing that nobody has even asked him if he wants to captain the United States at the 2027 Ryder Cup.

Woods, 49, was speaking ahead of this week’s Hero World Challenge, his own 20-man invitational that benefits the TGR Foundation. 

The 15-time major champion is not competing in the unofficial PGA Tour event as he continues to recover from the seventh back surgery of his career. 

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is going in search of becoming the first player to win the tournament three years on the bounce. Scheffler starts the week a red-hot 6/4 favourite to get the job done. 

Woods confirmed he still has no official timeline for a return to competitive golf, joking that he might try to play “25 events on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions,” making clear it was said tongue-in-cheek.

The update followed further expected news that Woods will not tee it up at the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie just before Christmas. 

The former World No.1 has not played competitively since missing the cut at The Open at Royal Troon in July 2024.

Woods also spoke candidly about Charlie’s college golf options as he heads toward graduation in 2027. 

But arguably the biggest talking point came when the Ryder Cup captaincy was raised. 

For years it has been widely assumed in golf circles that Woods would be offered the top job by the PGA of America whenever he wanted it. 

Yet Woods revealed that assumption currently has no basis.

When asked if he had been approached for the 2027 role at Adare Manor, Woods simply smiled: “No one’s asked me.”

That revelation surprised many given Woods’ stature, his previous experience as a playing captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup, and the fact he was long considered the favourite to lead the stars and stripes at Bethpage Black in 2025 before the role ultimately went to Keegan Bradley.

Woods explained last year that increasing responsibilities in shaping the PGA Tour’s future meant he could not commit the necessary time for the 2025 captaincy. 

He now chairs the powerful new Future Competition Committee, charged with delivering a reimagined Tour schedule for 2027 — yet another obligation that could influence any Ryder Cup decision.

Still, Woods remains one of the PGA of America’s most obvious candidates for Adare Manor. 

His close friendship with JP McManus, owner of the luxury Irish resort, only strengthens that perception. 

But, for now, Woods insists that he has not even received a phone call.

Pressed again by a reporter — “I’m asking you” — Woods reiterated: “No one’s asked me!”

Woods did, however, confirm he watched nearly every shot of the 2025 Ryder Cup and kept in regular contact with Bradley’s side during their defeat to Luke Donald’s Europe at Bethpage Black. 

“I watched pretty much all of it and was talking to the players and the captains involved in it, everyone involved on the U.S. side.”

And that was that.

The bookmakers have certainly reacted to Woods' latest comments, however, as his odds have been slashed into 7/2 joint favourite to become the next captain of the US Ryder Cup team. 

Traditionally, the PGA of America announces its captain the following spring, though Bradley’s appointment came earlier than expected last time. 

With no clarity yet from Woods, other potential successors include Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker and Webb Simpson.

So could Woods take the job if it’s offered? 

For now, he isn’t saying — and crucially, he says nobody is even asking. 

But by emphasising that point repeatedly, he may just have put the ball firmly back in the PGA of America’s court.