Tiger Woods turns down US Ryder Cup captaincy

Dubai: The PGA have announced that 15-time major champion Tiger Woods has turned down the role of United States Ryder Cup captain next year in Ireland.

Woods was detained for eight hours after his arrest last week on a DUI charge, which followed a car accident in Florida that left his vehicle flipped over.

The 50-year-old who has been released on bail made a statement reacting to the incident where he said he plans on “stepping away for a period of time” to seek treatment and focus on his health.

Before the crash, he hadn’t ruled out competing in next month’s Masters, although he hasn’t played in a major since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024.

This now almost certainly looks off the cards for Woods, who has been given permission by a judge to seek treatment overseas.

"We commend Tiger for prioritising his long-term health and deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal decision," the PGA of America said.

The organisation also said it fully backs Woods and has "sincere hope for his strength, comfort, and recovery", adding that it will provide more updates about the future captaincy "when appropriate".

Woods has had a complex and often debated legacy at the Ryder Cup. Despite being one of the greatest golfers in history, his individual record in the competition doesn’t quite match his dominance in regular PGA Tour events or major championships.

Across eight Ryder Cup appearances, Woods compiled an overall record of 13 wins, 21 losses, and 3 halves, giving him one of the few losing records among elite American players with long tenures.

He was part of only one winning US Ryder Cup team during his playing career, a surprising statistic given his era of dominance.

That 1999 victory at Brookline remains iconic, both for its dramatic comeback and Woods’ contribution, although the team dynamic and European strength during the 2000s limited further US success. He later returned in a leadership role as a playing vice-captain in 2016 and was instrumental behind the scenes when the US reclaimed the Cup.

Keegan Bradley led the US team at Bethpage Black last year, and Woods was considered one of the leading candidates to assume the role in the competition’s 2027 edition.

Given his current circumstances, Woods has ended any speculation that he will captain the US at the Ryder Cup next year, with growing speculation that his latest car accident could even mark the end of his playing career.