John Daly never played in a Ryder Cup. Now he wants a seat in the team room for 2027, and he made that clear in a new interview, even as the man he wants to serve under has stepped away from the role.

Daly, the two-time major winner, spoke with Hard Rock Bet in an interview on July 14, 2026. He said he wants to be part of Team USA's setup at the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland, with Woods as captain.

He isn't asking for the top job. Just a role.

"I'd love to be a captain one day, but that ain't never going to happen," Daly said to Hard Rock Bet in an interview. "But Tiger would be an unbelievable captain. I would love to be a co-captain or just be a part of it somehow."

Although John Daly has won two major championships, he has never played in the Ryder Cup, making him the only major champion in the event's history, dating back to 1927, to miss out on competing.

Now he knows he is unlikely to be chosen as captain for the 2027 matches at Adare Manor in Ireland, but he still hopes to be part of the U.S. team in another role

Woods ruled himself out of the 2027 captaincy in April 2026, according to the PGA of America, after stepping away from golf to focus on his health following a car accident. Luke Donald will captain Team Europe for the third consecutive time.

Daly also reflected on his own absence from previous Ryder Cup teams. "I feel like I should have been on two teams, but it just didn't happen," he said. "I didn't play good enough, so I didn't get on them. But to be a part of the Ryder Cup would be something I would love to do, whether it's a co-captain or just be a part of it."

He had clear views on the pairing strategy too. Putting long hitters with shorter hitters in an alternate shot format doesn't work, he argued.

"I just don't think you should put a long hitter with a shorter hitter," Daly said. "Especially in an alternate shot."

He pointed to Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth as a pairing that clicked.

"They're not the longest hitters in the world, but man, they got it going when they played the alternate shots," he said.

Also, the Ryder Cup wasn't the only topic Daly touched on during the interview.

John Daly reflects on St Andrews, Happy Gilmore 2, and Modern Golf's fitness culture

The Hard Rock Bet interview went well beyond Ryder Cup tactics. Daly said winning the 1995 Open Championship at St Andrews remains his career highlight.

"To win at the home of golf at St Andrews is something that I'll always remember," he said in the same interview.

He also filmed Happy Gilmore 2 alongside longtime friend Adam Sandler.

"It was a blast doing it," Daly said. "Me and Adam have been good friends for a long, long time, and the guy is just one incredible human being."

On modern players working out for hours before and after rounds, Daly kept it short. "I don't work out, I put out," he said.

Do you think John Daly would make a good Ryder Cup co-captain for Team USA at Adare Manor in 2027? Tell us in the comments!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham