Tiger’s Ryder Cup Dilemma: When Being the Best Choice Isn’t Enough

I’ve been around this game long enough to recognize when we’re watching a collision between ambition and reality play out in real time. That’s exactly what’s happening with Tiger Woods and the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy, and it’s worth taking seriously—not as drama, but as a legitimate organizational problem that the PGA of America needs to solve quickly.

Let me be direct: I understand why Tiger is their guy. After 35 years covering professional golf and having caddied for Tom Lehman through some of the most competitive Ryder Cup moments of the ’90s, I know what captaincy demands. More importantly, I know what captaincy *means*. It’s not just about picking lineups and managing egos—it’s about embodying a standard, commanding respect across generations, and having the bandwidth to actually *lead*. Tiger has all of those credentials in spades.

But here’s what Tiger said that should concern every stakeholder in this process:

“They have asked me for my input on it. I haven’t made my decision yet. I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour. That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, our Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.”

That’s not hesitation. That’s honesty. And in my experience, when someone—especially someone of Tiger’s stature—is being this candid about whether they can give something their full attention, you should listen.

The Real Problem: Waiting Game Beats Winning Strategy

The United States hasn’t won a Ryder Cup on European soil since 1993. Think about that number for a second. We’re talking about three decades of futility in one of golf’s most important competitions. The stats tell the story: the U.S. has won just four of the last 12 contests overall. Europe, meanwhile, has managed four road victories since 1993. That’s not a small gap—it’s a chasm.

Ryan Lavner hit the nail on the head when he pointed out the uncomfortable parallel:

“It certainly is amazing, and I have to say, it sounded almost exactly like what we heard in the spring and early summer of 2024.”

He’s right. We’ve seen this movie before. The delays, the uncertainty, the eventual pivot to Plan B—it didn’t serve us well with Keegan Bradley’s appointment, and it won’t serve us well here. The difference is that we might not have another Plan B that carries Tiger’s gravitas.

What strikes me most is the organizational complacency here. The PGA of America isn’t just waiting for Tiger; they’re essentially holding their breath. A Ryder Cup captaincy isn’t something you figure out 18 months before the event. It’s something you *plan*—player development, team dynamics, strategy sessions, sponsor coordination, media relations. Every month that passes without clarity is a month where Team USA is operating without a rudder.

Tiger’s Legitimate Conflict Deserves Respect

Now, before I sound like I’m ganging up on Tiger, let me be fair: the man has a point. He’s serving on two boards and is deeply invested in PGA Tour strategy at a moment when the entire professional golf landscape is shifting. That’s not a side project. That’s the future of the sport he helped save.

“Serving on two boards and what I’m doing for the PGA TOUR, I’m trying to figure out if I can actually do this and serve the people that are involved and serve them at an honourable level.”

I respect that calculation. I’ve seen too many captains phone it in, too many team environments suffer because leadership was divided. Tiger’s asking the right question: Can I give this what it deserves? That’s the mark of someone who understands what Ryder Cup captaincy actually entails.

But respect doesn’t solve the organizational problem. In fact, it highlights it.

The Decision That Needs to Happen Now

Lavner articulated what should happen next, and I agree completely:

“If I’m the PGA of America, I’m giving Tiger a hard deadline – ‘We’d love to have you. You by far our number one choice, but we have to get it planned in place.'”

This isn’t harsh. It’s professional. It’s actually *respectful* to Tiger, because it forces clarity. It says: we value you, we want you, but we also have an obligation to 12 players and an entire nation’s golf fans who deserve a captain who’s all-in.

A deadline might actually liberate Tiger to make the right call either way. Right now, he’s in limbo. He’s torn between two important things. A firm deadline—say, 60 days—doesn’t diminish him. It empowers him to commit fully or gracefully step aside.

And if he steps aside? There’s no shame in that. The PGA of America needs to have contingencies ready. Steve Stricker? Zach Johnson? Both have captaincy experience and wouldn’t hesitate. You need to know who Plan B is *before* you make the call to Tiger.

The Adare Manor Opportunity

This is Ireland. This is a chance to end the longest road drought in American Ryder Cup history. That’s not business as usual. That’s the kind of moment that shapes legacies—for captains and for organizations. Waiting around isn’t honoring that opportunity. It’s wasting it.

The PGA of America should act. Tiger should decide. And Team USA should head into 2027 knowing exactly who’s leading them home.