Tiger Woods shockingly installed as favourite for 2027 US Ryder Cup captaincy

The prospect of Tiger Woods captaining Team USA at the 2027 Ryder Cup has suddenly become very real with bookmakers now making the 15-time major champion joint favourite to lead America’s revenge mission at Adare Manor in Ireland. 

In a surprising market shake-up, one of the UK's biggest bookmakers William Hill has now installed Woods and Jim Furyk as 7/2 joint favourites to take over the US captaincy.

The moves for Woods and Furyk have happened after Keegan Bradley — previously the frontrunner at 2/1 — drifted to 5/1 overnight following his emotional admission that he "might never get over" the home defeat at Bethpage Black last month. 

Bradley's side lost 15-13 to Luke Donald's Europe in New York, a result that marked USA's sixth defeat in the last eight Ryder Cup contests.

Tiger Woods now joint favourite to be 2027 Ryder Cup captain

Woods, who revealed two weeks ago that he’s undergone the seventh back operation of his career, would be a shock appointment for many, including ourselves here at GolfMagic. 

But despite the golf legend's ongoing health battles, few figures in world golf carry the gravitas, leadership, and aura that Woods does.

While plenty of people consider it would be an impossible task for Woods to act as captain given everything he's got going on right now, others believe he's the only man who can fire up the stars and stripes and get them to rewrite the record books at Adare Manor in 2027. 

Incredibly, the last time the United States won the Ryder Cup on European soil was in 1993. 

That team, led by Tom Watson, defeated Europe 15-13 at The Belfry in England. 

Others in favour of the 15-time major champion taking the captain's armband off Bradley for 2027 believe there's every chance because of Woods' close relationship with JP McManus, who bought Adare Manor in 2015. 

Woods and McManus have been friends ever since being introduced by Mark O'Meara during a trip to Ireland in 1998. 

"JP is one of my dearest friends," Woods once said of McManus. 

If Woods does take reins then it would mark the first time the former World No.1 has been a Ryder Cup captain.

Woods does have previous experience as a skipper though having been a playing captain of the 2019 US Presidents Cup team, which defeated Ernie Els' Internationals 16-14 at Royal Melbourne GC in Australia. 

Despite Woods' limited playing schedule at the moment, the joint record 82-time PGA Tour winner has remained deeply involved behind the scenes, particularly in PGA Tour governance and player negotiations.

Woods has also played a role in shaping Team USA’s future direction. 

A Ryder Cup captaincy would represent one of the most significant leadership roles of his career, though his latest lumbar disc surgery does raise questions about his physical capacity to travel and lead his nation in 2027. 

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Here at GolfMagic, we believe Woods should end his golf career at the 155th Open when in July 2027, especially as it will be held on his favourite golf course in the world, the Old Course at St Andrews. 

That would be two months before the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland. 

Keegan Bradley drops in golf betting odds from 2/1 to 5/1

Bradley’s post-Ryder Cup heartbreak appears to have directly impacted his standing with the bookies, especially after his latest comments. 

The 37-year-old has told reporters he "might never get over" the loss at Bethpage - words William Hill claim have dampened momentum behind his captaincy bid.

"Speculation for who will captain the USA Ryder Cup team in 2027 has turned up a notch following Keegan Bradley’s recent comments, stating he may never get over the host’s defeat at Bethpage in September," said Lee Phelps, spokesperson for William Hill.

"As a result, we’ve pushed Bradley’s odds of being the USA captain out to 5/1, leaving Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk as joint favourites at 7/2 to lead their side across the pond to Adare Manor in just under two years’ time."

Furyk and Stricker among other frontrunners

Furyk, who captained the US at Le Golf National in 2018 and served as vice-captain at Bethpage, joins Woods at 7/2. 

The American's steady leadership style and Ryder Cup pedigree make him a logical, lower-risk choice if Woods’ fitness concerns persist.

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Behind them, Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker (the winning captain from 2021), and Webb Simpson all sit at 4/1 in the betting.

Here at GolfMagic, we think Simpson looks the smart value as he is still heavily involved with the American players on the PGA Tour. 

Simpson, who won the 2012 US Open, got his first taste as a vice-captain at Bethpage, and that in our eyes was the perfect platform to now step up into the hotseat in Ireland. 

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Further down the list, Kevin Kisner is 12/1, Gary Woodland 14/1, and Davis Love III and Zach Johnson, the 2023 captain, are both 16/1, while Corey Pavin rounds out the field at 20/1.

William Hill is no longer offering odds on Europe' 2027 captain.

The decision is understandably in Donald's hands, as to whether he fancies a crack at becoming the first ever captain in the 100-year history to win three Ryder Cups in a row. 

Donald is available at odds of evens with some bookmakers at the moment.

It's understood Francesco Molinari (4/1) is the frontrunner should Donald turn it down. 

Betting odds to become 2027 United States Ryder Cup captain

Odds provided by William Hill