Tony Jacklin believes Tiger Woods is destined to become the next US Ryder Cup captain and says the golf icon will ultimately see it as his “duty” to lead Team USA.
The Ryder Cup legend says the biggest question ahead of the 2027 contest is whether Woods is prepared to take on the challenge of trying to wrestle the trophy back from Europe.
He said: “I think the big story is, does Tiger really want to expose himself and do it (captain USA)?
“Tiger must know that, going into the matches in Ireland, Europe’s going to be the overwhelming favourite. So does he want to put himself up to get his backside kicked?
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Tiger Woods has been tipped to be USA's new Ryder Cup captain
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“I think it’s his duty to do it. If he could do it and pull it off, he'd be King of the hill forever.”
Jacklin has also backed Luke Donald as the right man to lead Team Europe again in 2027, describing him as “the obvious choice”.
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Jacklin has backed Luke Donald as the right man to captain Team Europe in 2027.
He said: “Luke was really the obvious choice. He’s done such an excellent job over the past two years. A number of us thought Justin Rose might be ready to take on the mantle, but he’s obviously playing some of the best golf of his life.
“As soon as he declined the opportunity, Luke was really the obvious choice. It was just a question as to whether he wanted to take it on again.
Golf icon Tony Jacklin is backing Tiger Woods to return to the Ryder Cup fold
| PA“Thankfully, he said yes. I think that was the right answer, and I think we’re going to be in a very strong position again.”
Jacklin was equally emphatic when assessing Donald’s impact as captain so far: “He’s done such an excellent job over the last two years as captain.
"He embraced it the way he needed to. He became everybody’s best friend. He was totally thorough, and we won on both occasions.
“He’s the sweetheart of a guy, and he’s got a lovely way about him of dealing with the media. He’s a great, perfect guy for the job. I wish him well again, and I hope he has a trifecta.”
Jacklin also gave an insight into what the public rarely sees from a successful Ryder Cup captain: “You can’t play for these players, but you can become their friend.
"You become simpatico with the pressure that they get put under and use all of your influence to help them as much as you can.”
He also pointed to Europe’s enduring unity as one of the key ingredients behind the team’s modern Ryder Cup success.
Rory McIlroy led Team Europe to victory at the Ryder Cup last year
| PAJacklin, now one of London’s leading Motivational speakers , said: “Team unity is a huge thing, and I believe, with an absolute passion, that we never have a problem with team unity in Europe.
“Once a European gets on that Ryder Cup team, he has an opportunity to show that just because their background doesn’t necessarily equate to what the American counterparts’ background has been, that doesn’t make America any better.
“The Ryder Cup has become a wonderful way for Europe to show that they’re up for anything. They’re just as good, if not better, than the Americans. It puts America on the defensive all the time.”