U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley on playing at Bethpage, new unis
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley explains the emotions that go along with playing at Bethpage.
Tiger Woods will not be the U.S. team captain or a player at the 2025 Ryder Cup.Woods declined the captaincy due to time commitments with the PGA Tour Policy Board.He has indicated he may be interested in captaining a future Ryder Cup team.
Tiger Woods will be a Ryder Cup captain someday. It’s inevitable. His accomplishments are too many, and his legacy is secure at golf’s most prestigious international team event. The question long ago evolved into when Woods wanted to assume the role of United States team captain, not if it’s his turn.
Woods, 49, was once seen as the front-runner to be the United States team captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup given his age, stature and limited presence on the PGA Tour these days. But when the Ryder Cup comes to the famed Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York beginning Sept. 26, he will not be involved in the event in an official capacity. Woods is neither a team captain, nor is he healthy enough to be one of the 12 golfers chosen to represent the U.S. against the best golfers from Europe.
Keegan Bradley is instead the United States captain in 2025, leading an American team featuring Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele against Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Team Europe. Bradley was given the chance to be captain only once Woods declined.
So what happened and why isn’t Woods serving as captain in 2025? Here’s what Woods said about the situation, his future Ryder Cup plans, and how he’s helping in the background during the lead-up to this year’s Ryder Cup:
Why isn’t Tiger Woods Ryder Cup team captain?
More than a year ago, Woods indicated he turned down the chance to be the United States team captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup. The 15-time major winner had recently taken on increased responsibilities as a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board of Directors in an effort to help broker a resolution for the ongoing rift between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
“With my new responsibilities to the Tour and time commitments involved, I felt like I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain,” Woods said in a statement released by the PGA of America in July 2024. “That does not mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future. If and when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide.”
Woods confirmed ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship that he had been in discussions with the PGA of America about serving as captain but emphasized then, “I need to feel that I can give the amount of time that it deserves.”
Woods could next serve as captain at the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland. The next Ryder Cup on American soil is scheduled for 2029 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. Woods previously served as a vice captain during the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine when he was still recovering from injury. He was also a playing captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup. He last played in the Ryder Cup in France in 2018.
Is Tiger Woods playing at the 2025 Ryder Cup?
No, Woods is not involved in this year’s Ryder Cup in any official capacity. He is still recovering from surgery in March after rupturing his Achilles during a ramp-up in practice and training ahead of the 2025 Masters. Woods last played in a professional event at the 2024 Open Championship in July 2024 when he missed the cut. He made appearances with TGL last winter, but didn’t compete at the beginning of the 2025 PGA Tour season following the death of his mother.
Bradley said previously he would consult with Woods throughout the year as the process of picking the Ryder Cup progressed. Bradley said recently, according to PGATour.com, that he leaned on Woods while determining whether to be the first Ryder Cup playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 since Woods had prior experience in the dual role at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
Bradley ultimately did not use one of six captain’s picks on himself after finishing 11th in the United States Ryder Cup points standings.
What is Tiger Woods Ryder Cup record?
Woods has played in eight Ryder Cups and has a record of 13-21-3. He is 4-2-2 in singles matches.
When does the 2025 Ryder Cup start?
The 2025 Ryder Cup is scheduled to begin with morning foursomes and afternoon four-ball matches on Friday, Sept. 26. The event runs through Sunday, Sept. 28. The Ryder Cup will be broadcast nationally by NBC and USA Network and available via live stream on Peacock and Fubo.
Watch 2025 Ryder Cup with Fubo
Ryder Cup schedule, format
The three-day competition features four foursome and four four-ball matches on the first two days of competition. The winner of each match earns a point for their team. The order of the events each day is determined by the home team’s captain.
The final day of Ryder Cup competition concludes with 12 singles matches in which a point is awarded to the team of the winning golfer. There are 28 total points to determine the Ryder Cup champion, with half-points awarded for matches that end in ties.
Friday, Sept. 26
Morning foursomes: Beginning at 7:10 a.m. ET (USA, Peacock, Fubo)Afternoon four-ball matches: Beginning at 12:25 p.m. ET (USA, Peacock, Fubo)
Saturday, Sept. 27
Morning foursomes: Beginning at 7:10 a.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Fubo)Afternoon four-ball matches: Beginning at 12:25 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Fubo)
Sunday, Sept. 28
Singles matches: Beginning at 12:02 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Fubo)
