Tiger Woods wasn’t fit enough to take his place in the 20-man field for this week’s Hero World Challenge as he continues his recovery from the sixth back surgery of his career in September. However, as the host of the Albany event, he has still been heavily involved this week.
With the tournament deep into its final round, Woods also made an appearance in the NBC Sports broadcasting booth where he discussed the 2025 Ryder Cup at New York’s Bethpage Black.
Woods had been mentioned as a potential successor to Zach Johnson for next year’s match, but the role eventually went to Keegan Bradley, and the 15-time Major winner thinks the Vermont-born player is the perfect choice, particularly given his New England roots.
He said: “To where he’s from and what he’s meant to the north-east, I think it’s a natural fit. His connection – he’s not really that old. So most of the guys he’s played with and I think that he has naturally been a very emotional and very fiery, opinionated leader and I think that he’ll do really well at Bethpage.”
Woods also thinks Bradley could yet take on a playing role at the match, although he had words of caution given he did both in the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne. He said: “I just did not sleep. It was quite a bit of jet lag, but there was a lot of responsibility as a player and as captain.”
Woods was a player and captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Woods also explained his decision to decline the chance to captain the 2025 US Ryder Cup team, pointing out that his current responsibilities, which include his role as a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, necessitated he step away from consideration: “There was quite a bit of talk, he said. “I’ve got a few things going on with boards and things that we need to get handled.”
Woods is also enthusiastic about what the US fans will bring to the occasion, citing the atmosphere on the the two occasions Bethpage Black has hosted the US Open, including in 2002, when Woods won the title.
He said: “It’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be incredible. Our fans are going to be so exciting. We’ve had US Opens there and they’ve been electric. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when they turn up for a Ryder Cup. It’s going…
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