Major champion floats bold Tiger Woods Ryder Cup captaincy idea

John Daly has floated the idea of sharing the Ryder Cup captaincy with Tiger Woods.

Woods, who turns 50 this month, is widely expected to succeed Keegan Bradley and lead the United States at Adare Manor in 2027. 

But the 82-time PGA Tour winner says he is yet to receive a phone call from the PGA of America about taking the reins. 

Woods was offered the captaincy before it went to Bradley, but the 15-time major winner turned down the offer.

He said the primary reason was that he wouldn't be able to devote enough time and attention to the role given his other responsibilities. 

Woods was referring to his role on the PGA Tour's policy board and commitments to TGL. 

And in August, he was announced as the chairman of the PGA Tour's future competition committee. 

It means that Woods is going to be busier than ever off the course over the next few years and will likely find himself in the same predicament.

Daly told Hard Rock Bet that he would love to succeed Bradley as the skipper given his ancestors are from Cork. 

The 59-year-old knows that he is unlikely to get the call though, given he never featured in the biennial showdown. 

Still, he dares to dream. "I'd love to be a captain one day, but that ain't never going to happen," Daly said. 

"But Tiger would be an unbelievable captain. I would love to be a co-captain or just be a part of it somehow.

"I feel like I should have been on two teams, but it just didn't happen. I didn't play good enough, so I didn't get on them. 

"But to be a part of the Ryder Cup would be something I would love to do, whether it's a co-captain or just be a part of it.

"I'd love to see it, put my input in, and hopefully help the guys. 

"I think it'd be an experience for me that I've always dreamed of doing ever since I won the PGA Championship in 1991."

The PGA of America will likely name Bradley's successor before the first major of 2026.  

Bradley himself has said he would like another crack at the whip, but has admitted that is unlikely to happen. 

If Woods turns down the role again, the PGA of America has no shortage of options. 

Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Webb Simpson, Stewart Cink, Brandt Snedeker or Fred Couples could be approached.  

Bradley's counterpart at Bethpage Black, Luke Donald, is yet to confirm whether or not he will continue in the role. 

Tommy Fleetwood, Europe's top points scorer in New York, has placed on record his desire for Donald to continue. 

Donald is expected to announce his decision before the 2026 Masters Tournament. 

"My hat's off to Rory McIlroy"

John Daly was also asked for his opinion on the crowd behaviour at Bethpage Black in September. 

Rory McIlroy was the primary target of verbal abuse from outside the gallery ropes and, on occasion, led his temper get the better of him. 

McIlroy and his wife Erica received a letter of apology from the PGA of America's chief executive over what transpired. 

And the Northern Irishman has urged golf fans to remember the Ryder Cup for the right reasons. 

Daly predicted that the Ryder Cup matches will "get ugly" again when the contest heads back to Europe. 

"New York fans are loyal, man," said Daly. 

"They love the USA. My hat's off to Rory McIlroy because they absolutely destroyed him, and the thing is, what they have to understand is, it didn’t bother him.

"He played great, and the whole European team played great, and I think what we must realise is the fans are so awesome – they're going to get behind the US, like the Europeans get behind the European team.

"It's probably going to get ugly when we go to Europe again, so our guys are just going to have to be able to put up with it. And the Europeans, my hat's off to them, the way they dealt with it.

"I thought Rory was a gentleman the way he handled it, and he kept winning. It's sport. That's what it is."