Will Tiger Woods captain 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team? Here is what PGA of America is saying

LOUISVILLE — Things didn't go so well for Zach Johnson and the U.S. Ryder Cup team in Italy in September, so the fact the team is looking for a new captain for 2025 at Bethpage Black in New York is not surprising.

But what would be surprising is if Jupiter Island's Tiger Woods is not the PGA of America's first choice as the man to lead the U.S. team in its attempt to atone for the beat down it took at Marco Simone Golf Club outside of Rome.

Seth Waugh, the PGA of America CEO, said Wednesday before the start of the PGA Championship at Valhalla that discussions are ongoing about the position for the event that is 16 months away.

“We have had conversations for months,” Waugh said. “We have also had conversations at the Ryder Cup Committee, multiple conversations about potential captains and a list of potential captains.

“You know, Tiger, he's been pretty clear. I think we all know that he can be pretty focused, and that's one of his many superpowers is that ability to sort of tunnel and decide. And he doesn't do anything that he's not fully committed to, and we totally respect that. And he's got a lot on his plate right now. … He's playing in a major and we want to respect that, and we'll re-engage next week or so.”

Waugh said no timeline has been set for the decision.

"We have picked captains later than this, we've picked captains earlier than this," he said. "Luke Donald (the 2023 European team captain) was named a year out a year ago and they had a pretty good performance, for instance. We think there's plenty of time, and putting an artificial date on it is not something we need to do."

And it was announced two months following the 2023 Ryder Cup that Donald, who is from Jupiter, will return to lead the Europeans in 2025.

Whoever is leading the U.S. team that has a lot to prove after losing 16.5 to 11.5 last year, which will add to the anticipated drama.

"Bethpage is going to be epic," Waugh said. "I think it's going to be the Ryder Cup of Ryder Cups. New York and the Ryder Cup is a pretty incredible combination. We are going to have a great captain and a great team and we are going to be very competitive."

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf writer for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

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