The much anticipated and hyped tournament in the form of the 2023 Ryder Cup came to an end on Sunday. Luke Donald and Team Europe dominated the proceedings from the early get-go which helped them regain the Ryder Cup. Team USA had a Day 1 to forget where they failed to win any match, which cost them. One key figure missing from the action was Tiger Woods. An interesting question has now been raised – Will the golf great be the next captain of Team USA?
Woods, 48, is one of the greatest athletes of all time. His status as a golf legend expands beyond the realms of sports. He would have been part of the squad had he not been out of action through injury. Captain Zach Johnson and his picks are now being heavily questioned. Former US Captain Paul Azinger has now planted this in the minds of fans with his theory.
Azinger who led his country to Ryder Cup triumph in 2008 now believes he can be in charge of the next squad. The golf veteran has not played in this event since 2018. His record though speaks volumes for itself. In his eight appearances in the biennial tournament, Woods has participated in 37 matches with 13 victories, 21 defeats, and three halved matches.
By the time the tournament is played next time at the Bethpage course in New York City, Woods will be 50 years old. Though fans would like to see him compete, there could be chances that he might retire by then.
How are captains selected for the Ryder Cup?
A good captain is someone who can lead the team in difficult phases while showing off their leadership skills. They are some of the most important people on a team who keep the players in check and guide them. Golf usually does not have captains in normal events. However, the Ryder Cup is not a normal event. Another question that concerns many is how are they selected.
This time the responsibility was given to Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson at the start. Stenson though was fired from his position following his switch to LIV Golf. Luke Donald was later announced as his replacement.
While the actual process continues to remain in mystery, it is reported that the captains are selected by a vote committee board. The PGA Tour controls the USA team while the R&A controls the European Union. These two bodies determine the captain through a voting process. The US Committee now resembles several stars including Tiger Woods himself. This could see him being drafted by the members to lead out the side if he is unable to play next time out.
Woods right now is recovering from his knee injury. During this rehab phase, he joined the PGA Tour policy board as the sixth player-director. It seems like he will likely be involved in behind-the-scenes work rather than actually being playing on the greens.
It now remains to be seen when will he return to the golf course. He is expected to appear in his TGL indoor league but a timeline on the real events is still not set. If he does retire the door for being the next USA captain could very well be open for him.
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