His second Ryder Cup victory as captain barely finalized, Luke Donald was already being showered on Bethpageâ€s 18th green with chants of, “Two more years!†That included several players and even someone from his immediate family. Donald is already the betting favorite to lead a third European team at Adare Manor in 2027, though if he opts to step down, perhaps heâ€ll take an assistantâ€s role under Justin Rose, the 45-year-old and six-time Ryder Cupper who starred again in New York but is certainly nearing the end as a competitor. Either way, itâ€s surely one of those two for Europe.
As for the Americans, there is far more captain uncertainty.
Keegan Bradley is the early favorite to run it back in Ireland in two years, while the group of contenders is crowded behind him. One option that has already been ruled out is Phil Mickelson, who took to social media this weekend to take his name out of the hat, if it was even in the hat because of his move to LIV Golf three years ago.
“No rumors,†Mickelson wrote. “My Ryder Cup involvement is over. Iâ€m happy being a spectator and rooting for Team USA.â€
Letâ€s size up some candidates for 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain:
1. Keegan Bradley
Bradley and his assistant captains showed some ineptitude with analytics when it came to a few pairings, but where he most went wrong was with the setup. Perhaps it was telling that on Saturday night he said, “I think historically we play faster greens on the PGA Tour than they do.†News flash: Every member of the European team is a full-time PGA Tour (or LIV) member, some for over a decade. Itâ€s almost as if they thought they were still playing the likes of Donald and Lee Westwood; this modern European squad, one loaded with firepower, feasted on a benign Bethpage with little rough. All that said, where Europe has found an advantage is with continuity, from the top down. The U.S. might not have a better option than to run Bradley back, letting him correct mistakes, which, credit to him, he admitted to. The good news is the away captain doesnâ€t control the setup.
Woods was the biggest story in 2018 as he returned to action following a fourth back surgery and won his first PGA Tour title since 2013. Heâ€ll look to get back in the win column in the majors in 2019. Heâ€s won 14 of them, four shy of Jack Nicklaus†record, and heâ€ll play three major venues this year where heâ€s won before – Augusta National (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005), Pebble Beach (2000) and Bethpage Black (2002). Oh, and heâ€ll captain – and maybe play on? – the 2019 U.S. Presidents Cup team in Australia this December.
2. Tiger Woods
If itâ€s true that Woods turned down the 2025 captaincy, then perhaps heâ€d feel the same disinterest in taking for reins in Ireland. But if not, there isnâ€t another captain who would inspire his players more. Who knows how Woods would do with pairings, but he did just fine in Australia in 2019, and the intimidation factor alone is enough to consider him, especially on enemy soil. Then again, considering Woods†career Ryder Cup record – 13-21-3 – is he really that intimidating in this event?
3. Webb Simpson
If I was a betting man, Iâ€d probably put my money behind Simpson. Heâ€s been part of the assistant rotation in Cups, including at Bethpage, and heâ€s arguably got the most leadership qualities of any realistic candidate. Plus, he was a player on that 2007 U.S. Walker Cup team that snapped a lengthy away drought at Royal County Down. He could get some of that band back together, too, by appointing Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel as assistants.
4. Steve Stricker
Heâ€s been a winning Ryder Cup (2021) and Presidents Cup (2017) captain, so if the U.S. is only concerned about winning, then why not give Stricker a crack at an away game? Heâ€s had some health issues in recent years, so maybe heâ€s not interested in the stresses and demands of being a captain again, but heâ€d be a good pick.
5. Brandt Snedeker
Heâ€d likely be higher up this list if not for the fact that heâ€s set to captain the 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup team at Medinah. But heâ€ll get to captain a Ryder Cup one day, perhaps as soon as 2029 at Hazeltine.
6. Jim Furyk
It did not work in Paris in 2018, what makes you think it will somehow pay off at another away Ryder Cup nine years later? Still, heâ€s by far the most experienced American option, ranking second all-time in matches played and serving twice as a Cup captain (also 2024 Presidents Cup) and four times a Ryder Cup assistant.
7. Kevin Kisner
Heâ€s been a Cup assistant twice now and is clearly a team-room favorite because of his personality, but itâ€s hard to see Kisnerâ€s role expanding right now.
8. Gary Woodland
Got his first spin as an assistant at Bethpage, though heâ€s likely several Ryder Cups away from a captainâ€s nod, if he gets one at all.
9. Stewart Cink
Have his Ryder Cup captaincy hopes expired after being dropped as an assistant this year? Cink came out and said he was disappointed that the PGA of America bypassed him in selecting Bradley, so maybe he sees the writing on the wall.
10. Justin Leonard
A true dark horse – and favorite pick of Golf Channelâ€s Brandel Chamblee. Heâ€s a Ryder Cup hero as a player (see: 1999 at Brookline), and he might be the closest the U.S. has to a Luke Donald. However, he declined multiple chances at being an assistant in the past, so that may have ruined his chances of ever leading a Ryder Cup team.
11. Paul Azinger
So much of whatâ€s been good about U.S. Ryder Cup teams in the last decade-plus is credited to Azinger, and yet he only led once, in 2008 at Valhalla. Times have changed, yes, but Zinger getting a chance to captain in an away pressure-cooker would, at the very least, be entertaining.
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12. Tom Watson
Itâ€s time for some good, old-fashioned discipline again. He also is the last U.S. captain to win in Europe (1993, The Belfry).
13. Zach Johnson
To quote those New York crowds: Fuhgeddaboudit.
14. Nick Saban
One word: Winner.
15. Scott Scheffler
If Scottie Scheffler hadnâ€t gone 1-4, the Americans wouldâ€ve won at Bethpage. Heâ€s struggled in some of these Cups already, so why not employ his dad to get the most out of the world No. 1.
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