Ahead of the 2026 Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods showed a positive response regarding his return from injury. So does that mean we’d get to see him as the captain of the American team at the 2027 Ryder Cup?

According to sources, the PGA of America has given Woods a ‘soft deadline’ till the 2026 Masters Tournament to decide about his captaincy stance for the next Ryder Cup. And apparently, Woods is the only candidate for the role for now. 

When he was first asked about the role, the former world number one said, "They have asked me for my input on it, and 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 — Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup — if I can do it justice."

But things seem to have become a bit more time-consuming. Even last year, the PGA of America had to settle for Keegan Bradley as the captain at Bethpage Black as Woods turned the offer down. 

Now, this ‘soft deadline’ will let the U.S. golf leadership have a bit more clarity ahead of the event in Ireland. Meanwhile, it’ll also let the 15-time major champion evaluate his competitive schedule and long-term commitments to the sport.

After all, the period leading into Augusta provides a natural window for discussions without forcing an immediate public announcement.

But is the 50-year-old golfer returning at the Masters Tournament?

Tiger Woods Gives a One-Word Answer Regarding His Masters Tournament Stance

Woods’ injuries have prevented him from competing since the 2024 Open Championship. He was supposed to return at the 2025 Genesis Invitational. But his mother’s passing forced him out of the competition.

Later, in October, he underwent a lumbar disc replacement surgery. He’s already on the journey to recovery and has started practicing his swings. However, he hasn’t given a timeline for his return. 

Even when he was asked if he would return to play at the upcoming Masters Tournament, Tiger Woods had a one-word answer – “No.”

Nevertheless, Woods continues to weigh the Ryder Cup captaincy while prioritizing his recovery and long-term commitments.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu