Read more: Keegan Bradley takes open approach to LIV Golf for Ryder Cup

(Royal Troon, Scotland) - Tiger Woods has indicated that he will not take the position of United States Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black. Woods, who was widely regarded as the frontrunner to lead the United States team, claimed other obligations prohibited him from giving enough time to the leadership.

Speaking to reporters at the 152nd British Open at Royal Troon, Woods explained the factors that led to his decision. He said his schedule as a PGA Tour player and involvement in several committees, plus the launch of his TGL competition, left him unable to captain the Ryder Cup team justice.

Tiger Woods of the US during the news conference before the 152nd Open Championship,l Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, Scotland, UK, July 16, 2024 (Andrew Couldridge/Reuters)

"My time has been so loaded with the tour and everything and what we're trying to accomplish. I'm on so many different subcommittees that it just takes so much time in the day, and I'm always on calls," Woods said. He added that ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf series would have overlapped with Ryder Cup preparations.

“I told Seth that I just didn't feel like I could do the job properly. I couldn't devote the time. I barely had enough time to do what I'm doing right now, and add in the TGL starts next year, as well as the Ryder Cup. You add all that together and then with our negotiations with the PIF, all that concurrently going on at exactly the same time, there's only so many hours in the day," Woods stressed it was a difficult choice to decline the captaincy. However, he felt he could not devote enough attention to helping prepare the American team. 

"I just didn't feel like I would be doing the captaincy or the players in Team USA justice if I was the captain with everything that I have to do," he noted.

The 48-year-old Tiger expressed his support for the selection of Keegan Bradley as the new U.S. captain. Woods believes Bradley, a former PGA Championship winner, will be "a great leader" for the team.

Keegan Bradley celebrates a birdie putt during the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

“He's very passionate about what he does,” Woods said. “He's very passionate about the event. I think that this is going to be probably a turnover year for us for the captaincies, whether it's the captain itself and his vice captains. I think this is the natural progression, one we've been looking forward to, and I think it's that year.”

While ruling himself out as a playing captain, Woods left the door open to potentially serving as an assistant under Bradley. He also did not reject the idea of captaining the Americans at a future Ryder Cup, suggesting 2027 in Ireland may be a possibility if his schedule clears up.

“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,” he said. “It's one of those things where you just can't get it wrong.”

Tiger Woods' emphasis will stay on his playing career for the time being, as he prepares to finish his second round at the British Open this Friday. His decision puts a stop to rumors about a high-profile Ryder Cup leadership, but it also demonstrates his dedication to competing at his best on the course for the foreseeable future.

References: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/tiger-woods-ryder-cup-2024-troon