Former United States Ryder Cup captain makes claim about Tiger Woods' ambitions
Former United States Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has claimed Tiger Woods would sooner become the commissioner of the PGA Tour than lead Team USA at the biennial contest.
Former United States Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger says he believes Tiger Woods would sooner be the commissioner of the PGA Tour than lead Team USA in the biennial contest.
One storyline sure to develop after the 2025 matches conclude next week at Bethpage Black is who will replace Keegan Bradley at the helm.
European skipper Luke Donald is almost certain to hand over the captaincy to England's Justin Rose.
And it has long been thought that Woods will finally become a Ryder Cup captain when the contest heads to Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027.
It would also make perfect sense for Woods given his close ties to the Irish billionaire J.P. McManus, who owns the County Limerick course.
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Woods turned down the captaincy for the 2025 matches, citing his commitments on the PGA Tour's policy board amid the threat of LIV Golf.
Azinger, who was captain of the United States at Valhalla in 2008, told the Straight Facts Homie podcast he believes Woods is "bigger than the Ryder Cup captaincy".
"I don't know, I think he'd more like to be the commissioner before maybe than the Ryder Cup captain," he said. "Tiger's bigger than Ryder Cup captaincy.
"I said a couple of years back he should be the permanent captain, all-time captain, because who better?
"But that's not right. Other guys deserve to be captain, so I kind of take that back. But I think he has bigger fish to fry.
"Tiger, he's involved with this game monetarily now and maybe he'll end up running it, who knows?"
Azinger was referring to the fact Woods is on the PGA Tour's policy board.
He was added as a player director in August 2023, months after the PGA Tour announced a stunning 'framework agreement' with LIV Golf's Saudi financiers.
It is not known yet if Woods will attend the Ryder Cup matches next week.
The aforementioned Bradley told reporters he leaned on Woods for advice as he decided whether to take on a playing role.
Bradley then made the ultimate sacrifice by electing not to pick himself.
The US skipper also told GOLF that Woods is part of the decision-making.
"He's [Woods] being consulted [by Bradley]," a source told the publication.
"And I know he feels like he's a part of Keegan's decisions and how he's thinking about it, and Keegan has been hugely respectful of that.
"Without giving [Woods] an outsized role, I think it's been balanced and kind of appropriate. He’s been sort of an informal advisor or Dutch uncle."
The 2025 Ryder Cup will be played over 26-28 September.
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