Two key reasons why Tiger Woods is likely to accept offer to be USA’s next Ryder Cup captain have been suggested

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After Team USA’s disastrous Ryder Cup loss in New York, Tiger Woods has been presented as the answer to their struggles.

The Americans have now lost back-to-back, and their chances of winning at Adare Manor in two years’ time look slim. Team USA haven’t won in Europe since 1993. 

After Keegan Bradley’s challenging tenure as captain, which featured Ryder Cup losing mistakes during the tournament, he is unlikely to return to his role. His likely replacement? The greatest player of all time. 

Tiger Woods had an abysmal Ryder Cup record as a player, but he’s been presented as the saviour for Team USA moving forward. And while he rejected the role for 2025, Rex Hoggard thinks there are two reasons that he will take on the task for 2027. 

Rex Hoggard gives two reasons why Tiger Woods will be Ryder Cup captain in 2027

No one truly knows why he rejected the captaincy last time around. Johnson Wagner speculated whether it was to protect Woods’ reputation. He won only one Ryder Cup as a player, so a home loss as captain could only tarnish the great man’s legacy. 

But Hoggard has another theory. He believes that Woods’ involvement in the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf prevented him from applying himself fully to the role. 

Two years later, and the Tour is in a position of leverage after a widely successful 2025 season. That’s why Hoggard thinks Woods will accept this time around. 

He explained on the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav: “It’s Tiger Woods’ decision. It’s his job if he wants it. So was this job, this time around. This time he dragged his feet a bit so we ended up with Keegan Bradley. I would lean towards Tiger taking it next time around for a couple of different reasons.

“He didn’t do it this time because he is waist-deep, shoulder-deep or maybe neck-deep in what is going in the business of the PGA Tour, between the ongoing negotiations with the PIF and LIV Golf, between what Brian Rolapp wants to do with the PGA Tour.

“We all know Tiger Woods is obsessive when it comes to things that he wants to focus on. He is hyper-focused. And at that particular moment in time he felt like he could not dedicate the time needed to both the PGA Tour and being a captain.

“My guess is that by the time they approach him to do it again, it will probably be a different scenario. That the Tour is in a different position, I think at least in the short term we have all moved on that there is going to be a deal with the PIF, and Brian Rolapp seems to be steering the ship in the direction he wants it.

“So now Tiger Woods has some disposable time and has the interest. I think he will take the job for that reason and also the billionaire behind getting the Ryder Cup to Adare Manor in Ireland is JP McManus and Tiger Woods is very close to JP.”

One of Rolapp’s first moves as the new PGA Tour CEO was to appoint Woods to the competition committee. The aim of that committee, in Rolapp’s words, is to enhance “the PGA Tour’s value to fans, players and partners.”

But Woods’ role on the committee is vague, and he will most likely be able to commit to being Ryder Cup captain if he wishes.

Rex Hoggard suggests ‘Plan B’ option as Ryder Cup captain

If Woods is off the table as captain once again, Hoggard suggested an alternative.

He said, “I think [Brant] Snedeker is probably the best Plan B, because you will also be able to see how he handles this next cycle as the US Presidents Cup captain. It gives you an idea of his leadership style. So Tiger one, and Brandt a distant two.”

Snedeker was a first-time vice-captain in 2025 for Keegan Bradley’s team. He went 4-2-0 as a player at the Ryder Cup, and went undefeated in Hazeltine in 2016.

He’s been named captain for the U.S. side for the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah, which could provide important continuity for Team USA. Having one man in charge across both events can create the familiarity and trust that has made Europe so successful over the past half-decade.

If America are looking to copy the European model, Snedeker is the way to go.