Rónán MacNamara in Royal Troon
Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods has no thoughts of retiring from professional golf and is willing to put himself forward to captain the USA at the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare Manor.
Woods also hopes that Adare Manor owner and close friend JP McManus will be in a clean bill of health for the centenary matches.
Woods was the huge favourite to skipper the Stars and Stripes in Bethpage Black next year but that responsibility was surprisingly handed to 38-year-old Keegan Bradley while Woods was also mooted to be in for back-to-back captaincy’s taking in Adare Manor, the home of his great friend JP McManus.
While Keegan has barely settled into his slippers as US Ryder Cup captain, speculation has still been rife linking Woods with the capacity in Adare.
“I know it’s near and dear to his (JP) heart that he wants to be there for the event, and I hope he is there, obviously the conditions that he’s going through, and I hope he’s there, and I hope he’s healthy and happy,” explained Woods who earlier confirmed he was out of the running for the 2025 captaincy because of his PGA Tour committee duties which may spill over into 2027 the longer the merger negotiations between the PGA Tour and PIF continue to be at a standstill.
“As I said, I’ll put my hat in the ring again when I have more time and I feel like I can devote myself to a Ryder Cup. As of right now, I’ve got so many different things I’m juggling and trying to get right at the same time for all the players that are a part of the PGA TOUR.
“It’s one of those things where you just can’t get it wrong.”
Irish golf has had to wait a long time, perhaps too long for the Ryder Cup to return. 2006 in the K Club was the first and only time Europe and the USA have gone to battle over three days.
The 2006 edition was an emotionally charged occasion in the wake of the passing of Darren Clarke’s wife, Heather. Clarke and Woods faced each other in the Saturday morning four ball session with Clarke coming out on the right side of the result.
It was the only time that Woods, a serial winner, was content with losing.
“We played at the K Club. Hopefully it won’t be as wet as it was there. Hopefully my caddie doesn’t drop a 9-iron in the water.
“We had a fun week as a team. Unfortunately, we lost. I played the first match out against Darren after he just lost Heather, so that was very emotional. Darren and I have been very close.
“It was tough to lose that match, but I was — I couldn’t have been more happy and tearful myself for him for what that match meant and what the Irish crowd meant to him and the energy they brought to him during that difficult period.”