Tiger Woods, who served as vice-captain for Davis Love III during the team's 2016 Ryder Cup championship, might just become a formidable U.S. Ryder Cup captain in the future, according to Love. Tiger, the 14-time Grand Slam winner, returned to the competition following a 16-month hiatus due to injuries, and his loyal character, even when not holding a club, left an indelible impression on Love.
Two weeks ago, Love, now 52, won a spot in the PGA Tour's Hall of Fame, making it a memorable end to 2022, and that unforgettable 17-11 victory over Europe at Hazeltine is bound to linger in his memory. While reflecting on the 2022 RSM Classic Championship, Love highlights the pivotal moment in their 2016 success at Hazeltine, where their strategic planning became the foundation for their triumph.
“We’re both honest,” revealed Love. “We sit in a room, point fingers at each other, signal errors, and create a strategy we believe will work, and we commit to executing it.” As Love's favored pick for captain, Ryan Moore, celebrated the win with an exclamatory victory proclamation, Love quickly reminded him that the seeds of success were sown during a lesser-known tournament two years earlier.
Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, has identified with this unity and has voluntarily signed on to assist Woods as vice-captain, even though he wasn't officially selected for the role. On that memorable day, Ryan Moore prevented the ball from rolling back into the hole while celebrating the victory, for fear of committing the same error. However, Moore had other ideas.
“He showed up about an hour later, and he said, ‘I want you to have it,’” Love recounted. “He knows what it means for me and what it means for him. He wanted to ensure I got the acknowledgment I deserved after all I’d done for the team.”
Yet, Love continued to shine in his career, becoming the third-oldest winner of the PGA Tour at 52. His 20-year-old son, Dru, or Davis Love IV, as he prefers to be called, is also making a name for himself in the sport, with aspirations to claim numerous major championships and don the number one crown.
Love believes that the future of this beloved sport looks bright, citing the spectacle of Jordan Spieth captivating fans and the promising potential of young talents such as Ricky Fowler, Jason Day, and Rory McIlroy. Looking ahead to Donald Trump's continued tradition of upholding the historic connection between golf and U.S. presidencies, Love proudly anticipates the growth and vitality of American golf.
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Tiger Woods initially toyed with the idea of becoming the 2025 Ryder Cup captain at Bethpage Black, but ultimately decided against it, citing concerns about the level of commitment required and his obligations elsewhere in the sport. Davis Love III, who has experienced success and failure in his stints as Ryder Cup captain, is one of the contenders for the role except for Woods, however, specific thoughts from Love on Woods' leadership potential are not provided in the sources.
