Team USA is facing a leadership vacuum ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup.

With Tiger Woods officially out of the running, the clock is ticking. European rivals are already celebrating a major head start.

“To the point that you are a little concerned, the PGA of America are taking it seriously, don’t get me wrong, but it’s poor planning. It’s not good for the Cup preparation to be so one-sided at this point in time,” Howell said.

On the other hand, Team Europe has decided to appoint Luke Donald as captain for the third successive tournament. He led the team to victory in 2023 and 2025. USA captains Zach Johnson and Keegan Bradley suffered heavy losses against him in Rome and New York, respectively.

“Luke [Donald] is just about our greatest ever captain. So, for him to be going about his prep at this stage and then the US not to even have a captain picked, well, it’s got to be one up to us,” Howell said.

Woods was the PGA’s first choice, but recent circumstances have left the situation uncertain. Potential alternatives include experienced figures such as Fred Couples and Stewart Cink, both of whom have served in leadership roles within Team USA setups.

Tiger Woods’ Decision To Not Be Captain

After the recent DUI crash, it was likely that Woods, a 1999 Ryder Cup winner, would not serve as the US captain at Adare Manor next year. Woods has decided to seek treatment and focus on his health.

"We commend Tiger for prioritizing his long-term health and deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal decision," the PGA of America said.

Howell said the PGA had no Plan B and was scrambling to appoint a captain soon.

The focus now shifts to which American leader can step up to challenge Luke Donald's dominant European side.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav