Tiger Woods announcement all but concluded as golf icon gets backing from unlikely source

The clamor for Tiger Woods to assume the role of Team USA captain for the next year’s Ryder Cup continues to gain momentum, with former Scottish golfer Bernard Gallacher throwing his support behind Woods for the prestigious position.

Despite never having captained his country in the historic competition, Woods is widely regarded as the leading candidate to lead the team in 2025. His impressive Ryder Cup track record includes eight appearances as a player and a vice-captaincy role in 2016.

Speculation surrounding Woods’ potential appointment received a significant boost when he expressed optimism about the possibility during the Masters tournament earlier this month. Adding to the growing support, three-time European team captain Gallacher has endorsed Woods’ candidacy.

In an interview with Bunkered, Gallacher, who himself boasts eight appearances in the Ryder Cup, remarked: “They’re just waiting for the right moment to announce Tiger. Tiger is a unique case. They want him to lead the team at Bethpage. There’s a need to reclaim victory and redeem themselves after their poor performance in Rome. He would inspire the players of his generation to perform well for him.”

Discussing the advantages of appointing Woods as captain, Gallacher highlighted the commercial appeal associated with the globally recognized sports icon. He noted: “Commercially, it would maintain his brand presence. Serving as a Ryder Cup captain, particularly when he’s not as active on the course, would help keep his brand in the spotlight. With his new clothing line, it would provide a boost to that aspect of his brand.”

However, Gallacher acknowledged that the possibility of Woods committing to a rare four-year stint over two events might be unlikely. “He would undoubtedly be an exceptional captain on home soil. However, if he secures victory in New York, he may opt out of captaining in Ireland to avoid the risk of a loss after a win.”

When questioned about the speculation surrounding his potential captaincy during his 24th appearance at Augusta, Woods remained non-committal but hinted at ongoing discussions post-tournament. He stated: “We’re still in talks about it. Seth [Waugh, the PGA of America chief executive,] and I will discuss it after this event. I mentioned that I’ll be occupied for a couple of weeks, so let me focus on this week and hopefully securing another green jacket, then we can revisit the topic next week.”