Tiger Woods backs Keegan Bradley as Ryder Cup captain after declining role

Bradley was a surprise choice to lead the home side at Bethpage Black in September 2025 after Woods told PGA of America officials he did not have the time to commit fully to the job.

Woods reiterated on Tuesday that he would "put his hat in the ring again" when he feels the time is right, with Adare Manor in 2027 an obvious choice given his friendship with the resort's owner JP McManus.

The 15-time major winner expressed the hope that McManus, 73, who underwent treatment for prostate cancer in 2009, will be "healthy and happy" for the centenary matches in County Limerick.

"I know it's near and dear to his heart that he wants to be there for the event, and I hope he is there, obviously the conditions that he's going through, and I hope he's there," Woods said ahead of the 152nd Open at Royal Troon.

"And I hope he's healthy and happy.

"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.

"It's one of those things where you just can't get it wrong."

Woods has been heavily involved with the PGA Tour's negotiations with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls the breakaway LIV Golf League.

"I'm on so many different subcommittees that it just takes so much time in the day," Woods said. "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.

"I think Keegan is going to be a great leader. 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."

Woods said progress was being made in the talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF, although he admitted he sometimes wishes he was concentrating on his own game instead.

"There are days I wish I was out hitting golf balls instead of sitting in a three-hour subcommittee meeting," he said.

"I never would have foreseen myself doing this. It's a lot of work. It's enjoyable in the sense that I'm able to help the Tour and I'm able to help the next generation of players.

"Now the players that are coming up now, they have equity in the Tour, and that's never been done in any major sport in history. It's a way of me giving back to the game in a different way other than just playing."