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CELEB NEWS

Tiger Woods silences Charlie Woods critics according to

By Admin January 4, 2026

Tiger Woods silences Charlie Woods critics according to NCAA coach

Charlie Woods continues to silence critics with his fearless approach to golf, following the lessons and mindset instilled by his legendary father, Tiger Woods – according to the coach, Toby Harbeck.

Harbeck, who has mentored the sons of epic players like Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, has watched Charlie attack every hole aggressively, but initially warned Tiger the boy might make costly mistakes.

READ: How Tiger Woods’ TGL proves its power with stunning vi

Tiger simply replied, “Coach, it’s all a process. I went through it when I was a young kid. He will learn.”

That calm assurance demonstrated the confidence passed down to his son. Even as a young golfer, Tiger’s perfectionism was well reported with stories that he would tackle puzzles or coloring books until complete.

He often pushed limits. For example, Before the 2008 US Open, doctors advised him not to play due to a torn ACL and double tibia stress fracture. Yet, he competed and won, setting a precedent of persistence Charlie has inherited.

Tiger’s son reflects this same relentless drive. In 2022, he hurt his ankle before the PNC Championship but limped onto the course and finished the event, refusing to quit despite pain or doubt.

Harbeck once advised Charlie to save energy, but the teen helped his team, the Benjamin Academy Buccaneers, finish second at the 2024 Class 1A Region 4 tournament, showcasing his father’s competitive spirit.

Most recently, during the 2025 state championship, Charlie began with a 74 but followed with a remarkable 68 in the next round, leading Benjamin School to what is their second title in three years.

Tiger remains a supportive presence without overstepping. After his 2025 back surgery, he walked the long course to watch Charlie play every hole. A calm, reassuring presence that doesn’t take control.

How good is Charlie Woods?

Charlie’s talent has drawn attention from top programs so it’s little surprise that he’s ranked in the AJGA top 15 and is still evaluating college options, keeping recruiters guessing as demand continues to grow.

The Florida State Seminoles’ head coach Trey Jones spoke with Tiger recently, indicating he feels adding Charlie would strengthen the roster alongside Miles Russell – the top junior golfer in the world.

That’s an impressive vote of confidence in his talent as Jones aims to counter the Florida Gators’ top recruits. Elsewhere, the Woods family has strong Stanford ties. Tiger excelled there, and Charlie’s sister Sam attends the university.

Tha’s leading many to speculate he could follow in his father’s footsteps at the historic California school as the young golfer prepares to face challenges, proving doubters wrong and continuing a family legacy of excellence.

This combination of grit, skill, and mentorship signals that Charlieis poised to become a formidable force in junior and collegiate golf in the coming years – and potentially a household name like his 15x champion dad.

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GOLF

How Tiger Woods’ TGL proves its power with stunning vi

By Admin January 3, 2026

Tiger Woods’ TGL proves its power with stunning viewership numbers

When the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) launched its second season, critics rushed to label it a “sophomore slump” following its buzzing debut campaign.

Yet the early television numbers tell a very different story, one that positions TGLnot as a fading novelty but as a legitimate disruptor in the world of golf broadcasting.

TGL’s Season 2 opener, a Sunday afternoon showdown between Atlanta and New York on ABC, drew 646,000 average viewers, according to Nielsen data reported by media journalist Josh Carpenter.

READ: The 1 part of Tiger Woods’ legacy we’re waiting to understand

While this figure is roughly 30% below the league’s Season 1 debut on ESPN, the circumstances differ dramatically. The first season launched on a Tuesday night in primetime with zero major sports competition, while the second-season opener faced NFL Week 17, widely regarded as one of the toughest television environments for alternative sports programming.

Carpenternoted that TGL had to compete with the national NFL window for less than a quarter of its broadcast, yet the league still held its ground.

Despite these challenges, TGL outperformed all other traditional winter golf broadcasts that weekend. The PNC Championship drew 560,000 viewers, the Grant Thornton Invitational reached 450,000, and the World Champions Cup fell to just 305,000.

Even more impressive, TGL’s peak audience reached 735,000, suggesting viewers stayed for the entire contest, a thrilling finish sealed by Billy Horschel’s 37-foot walk-off eagle putt that clinched Atlanta’s 6-4 victory over New York.

TGL’s broader impact on golf audiences

TGL is making waves beyond just raw numbers. Its demographic appeal is remarkable for a sport often criticized for an aging audience. Season 1 reports show a median viewer age of 52, making it younger than the typical PGA Tour audience and second only to the NBA among major U.S. sports leagues.

Viewership for @TGL's Season 2 debut on Sunday afternoon: Atlanta-New York averaged 646,000 viewers on ABC (Nielsen Big Data + Panel, 3pm ET start).

The 2025 debut of the league averaged 919,000 (panel only) on a Tuesday night on ESPN from 9:00-11:00pm (New York-Bay GC).… pic.twitter.com/HBMBeI00ot

— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) January 2, 2026

Around 41-42% of viewers were in the 18-49 age bracket, a crucial demographic for advertisers and one that traditional golf broadcasts struggle to attract. This younger audience is precisely what gives TGL an edge over established tournaments.

The league’s Season 2 opener nearly matched the LPGA’s Chevron Championship final round (811,000 viewers), all while competing with NFL programming and delivering a far younger audience. The league has now established itself as the winter golf staple, filling a calendar slot that previously lacked consistent viewership.

With expanding broadcast rights across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and the ESPN App, along with rising sponsorship deals, TGL is no longer an experimental format. It is becoming the default offseason golf product, attracting viewers and advertisers that traditional tours often miss.

The question is no longer whether viewers will tune in, it is whether the PGA Tour and LPGA can keep up.

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BOXING

‘He got grits in his gloves’: Deontay Wilder names the hardest punc

By Admin January 3, 2026

‘He got grits in his gloves’: Deontay Wilder names the hardest puncher he faced (and it’s not Tyson Fury)

Deontay Wilder, despite four defeats in his last six fights, has been linked with a 2026 fight against Oleksandr Usyk. Wilder’s legacy will undoubtedly be his extraordinary punching power. He was behind in some fights, but found a way to win with that dynamite right hand. In a recent interview with Vegas Insider, The Bronze Bomber revealed the hardest puncher he’s ever faced.

JUST IN: Jake Paul Handed Career Blow Two Weeks After Anthony Joshua

Deontay Wilder recalls punching power of Johann Duhaupas

Wilder has stopped 43 fighters in his 44 wins. It’s an unbelievable record, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Alabama native, who has been behind in fights and struggled against certain opponents. Looking back on the hardest puncher he’s ever faced, many would expect Wilder to name Fury, but The Bronze Bomber named a surprising opponent as the biggest puncher:

“Like I said, I’m an energy person now. It may change throughout the years, but right now, when I think about the hardest.

“I can remember that the feeling in the ring was Johann Duhaupas, the Frenchman.

“Like every time he hit me with his jab and shit, I kept in my head. I was like, God damn. He hit hard.

“Damn. He got grits in his gloves.

“I kept saying, I can’t keep taking these jabs, you know?

“He was the only fighter that made me just really just think like that.

“Like if I got hit, like, dang, that hurt.

“That’s only what I could remember. So I always give him that gratitude, you know, and that acknowledgement.

“So, salute. Salute, bro. I still think about you.

“He hit me so hard, I still think about him!”

Deontay Wilder in 2026 and beyond

What’s left for Deontay Wilder? His taxing trilogy against Tyson Fury appeared to take a lot out of both fighters. After more than 14 months out of the ring, Wilder returned to big-time boxing, losing to Joseph Parker, and then suffering a defeat against Zhilei Zhang. The Bronze Bomber returned this year, stopping Tyrrell Herndon.

In the win against Herndon, Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) was relatively in control, using his jab effectively, with Herndon only having limited success. Wilder scored a knockdown in round two, despite Herndon protesting that it was a slip. As the rounds progressed, Herndon began to fatigue, with Wilder landing some big shots. This pressure from The Bronze Bomber led to a second knockdown.

In the seventh round, Wilder landed two right hands, which prompted the referee to jump in to wave the fight off. The use of the jab by Wilder was undoubtedly positive, but his timing was off. That is not unexpected given his inactivity in recent years. Is Wilder ready for a showdown with Usyk? Absolutely not! If Wilder is to make any further impact in the heavyweight division, we need to see him in a winnable fight against someone who will pose him questions. That’s when we will see if Deontay Wilder has the answers.

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BOXING

Jake Paul Handed Career Blow Two Weeks After Anthony Joshua

By Admin January 3, 2026

Jake Paul Handed Career Blow Two Weeks After Anthony Joshua Defeat

Jake Paul’s aspirations of becoming a world champion at cruiserweight have been dented, two weeks on from his loss to Anthony Joshua.

“The Problem Child” suffered a sixth-round knockout defeat to Joshua in their heavyweight clash on December 19 but Paul, who suffered a broken jaw during the contest, remained in positive spirits as he spoke about the future.

“We’re going to heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight and go for the cruiserweight world title,” he said. “I’m going to take a little break. I’ve been going hard for six years. I’m going to take some time off.”

JUST IN: Incredible detail on how Joshua survived fatal crash emerges as ch

Paul has had two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed after his jaw was broken, meaning he faces at least nine months on the sideline to recover, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

On top of that, the YouTuber-turned-boxer has officially dropped out of the World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight rankings, just five months after he was inducted at No. 14 following his victory over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Paul’s defeat to Joshua was reflected in the WBA’s latest schedule update, which was released on January 1.

What are the chances that Paul gets ranked again in the WBA’s cruiserweight standings? It will be difficult to bounce back from the broken jaw, but Paul says he is not considering retirement.

Jake Paul backed to “worm his way” into world title fight after Joshua defeat

Paul’s training partner David Adeleye believes the American is only a few regional wins away from earning himself a title shot.

“I see him getting back in the ring in 2026 to prove a point,” he told talkSPORT. “At what level nobody knows? It depends on his motivation. If he stays grounded they may match him perfectly.

“I think he could end up worming his way into a world title shot if he beats people at regional level in America. If he chooses certain fights and gets ranked top ten at the cruiserweight division, it could be a voluntary defence.

“If you are a champion, and you can get a certain amount of money, why not? You would take it.”

Adeleye added: “Getting a world title fight, I’m not saying he’s going to win it, but 100 per cent I think he could box for one. Beating the champion is a different ball game though.”

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BOXING

Incredible detail on how Joshua survived fatal crash emerges as ch

By Admin January 3, 2026

Incredible detail on how Anthony Joshua survived fatal crash emerges as charges for driver revealed

Nigerian police on Friday charged the driver of a car, carrying British boxer Anthony Joshua that was involved in a fatal crash, with “reckless” and “dangerous driving causing death”.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was also charged with driving without a valid “driver’s licence” and “driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property”, Oluseyi Babaseyi, a spokesman for the police in Ogun state, told AFP.

READ: Anthony Joshua pays ‘final respects to departed friends’ after leaving hospital

He was granted a five million naira bail ($3,500) but will remain in detention until he meets bail conditions, Babaseyi said.

Kayode was driving the boxer and two of his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, on a busy highway linking Lagos and Ibadan in southwest Nigeria when the Lexus SUV in which they were travelling rammed into a stationary truck on Monday.

Nigerian police and state officials said that Ayodele and Ghami died at the scene, while Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries.

It’s since been revealed that Joshua only cheated death after changing seats in the vehicle at the last minute, according to The Telegraph.

The publication reports that it was claimed in court Joshua was initially in the front seat, but moved to the back of the SUV at the request of the driver, who was struggling to see the side mirror past the heavyweight boxer.

The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun state, where the accident occurred, told AFP earlier in the week that its preliminary investigations showed that the vehicle was moving at an excessive speed and had burst a tyre before the crash.

Kayode is due to appear in court on January 20.

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CELEB NEWS

What Coco Gauff once said made Serena Williams the greatest

By Admin January 2, 2026

What Coco Gauff once said made Serena Williams the greatest tennis player of all time

Coco Gauff is on track to enjoy a legendary career, and is widely considered one of the biggest names in tennis.

After all, she is a fine ambassador for the sport and a top talent, having already won two Grand Slam titles at the age of just 21.

However, with this promising start to her career, already the comparisons to Serena Williams have come. It really took no time at all.

READ: Coco Gauff admits to constantly ‘stealing’ from her mother

And yet, despite that immeasurable pressure to emulate arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time, Coco Gauff has responded to such claims with grace and intelligence.

Coco Gauff explains why Serena Williams is the GOAT

Speaking back in 2022 to the National Bank Open, Gauff was keen to reemphasise her point about Williams being the greatest.

This is not a controversial opinion, but it is interesting to see how it is justified, given that it can be argued.

The young American offered a rather staunch defence though, noting: “What makes her the GOAT is her personality and all that she’s done off the court to fight for equality, to fight for young players like me and continue to lead in the way that she does and I think that’s what we really should be focused on.

“That’s just Serena. I don’t think there will be anyone who can do what she did, with all the adversity that she had to face, I don’t think there will be another player that will do that.”

“She’s the GOAT. And undisputed too. In my opinion. But I don’t think that’s an opinion, it’s a fact.

“Serena for me is the GOAT. The GOAT of all GOATs. There will never be another Serena.”

What has Serena Williams said about Coco Gauff in the past?

Serena has also expressed her pride in Gauff’s career thus far too, outlining the immense mutual respect shared between these superstars.

In fact, whenever asked about the youngster, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is always keen to sing her praises.

Even after she beat Venus Williams, her sister, in her famous breakthrough run at Wimbledon in 2019, Serena admitted: “She’s just impressive all around, from her personality to the way she plays. I think it’s just all super impressive.

“I was nowhere near her level at 15 either on the court or off the court, not even close. I know kids are growing up different nowadays, so I’m not sure. But I was nowhere near as smart and eloquent as she is. It’s nice to see.”

Gauff has been praised for doing one thing better than any player since Serena, almost validating the comparisons. It remains to be seen how this will play out over the next decade or two.

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BOXING

Oleksandr Usyk’s Six-Year Plan for Deontay Wilder Showdown

By Admin January 2, 2026

Speaking to WBN, Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s Team Director, confirmed the long-term strategy behind the matchup when asked if Wilder’s WBC legacy played a factor in the champion’s choice of opponent.

Usyk’s Vision, Six Years in the Making
“Yes, the WBC factor certainly plays a role. Oleksandr had the idea of boxing Wilder in the USA as far back as 2020. Unfortunately, at that time, the circumstances didn’t come together,” Lapin told World Boxing News.

He continued: Not everything depended on us, and the level of organizational readiness wasn’t there to deliver the fight the way it deserved.

JUST IN: “He’s next”: Gervonta Davis sets his sights on one former champion for comeback fight

“Now the situation is different, both in terms of scale and possibilities.”

This insight from Lapin highlights that Usyk’s approach is intentional and history-focused.

The Ukrainian champion is not reacting to current opportunities; he has actively targeted Wilder as a high-stakes challenge that aligns with his ambitions in the heavyweight division.

Why the Wilder Fight Matters
Legacy: As a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk seeks only the toughest challenges. Wilder’s five-year WBC reign, ten defenses, and devastating knockout power make him the ideal test.

Historical Significance: A voluntary defense against Wilder in the USA continues a tradition of monumental heavyweight matchups, attracting global attention to both fighters.

Strategic Planning: Unlike opportunistic or reactive matchups, Usyk’s vision for this fight has been in motion for six years, demonstrating a deliberate, long-term strategy rarely seen in modern boxing.

Current Status and Timing
Negotiations are progressing, and Wilder has indicated willingness to engage in the clash. All signals point toward a spring 2026 showdown on American soil.

While the exact venue and date remain under wraps, this exclusive confirms the fight is the result of years of planning rather than a spontaneous call-out.

For fans and analysts tracking the heavyweight division, Lapin’s confirmation adds clarity: Usyk vs Wilder is a career-defining moment for both athletes.

The matchup is not only a test of skill and power but a legacy-driven event with global significance.

Every decision, from location to timing, is designed to preserve the sporting logic and maximize the historical impact of the bout.

This is the most definitive confirmation yet that Usyk has his eyes on a monumental challenge, and the Wilder fight represents the next chapter in modern heavyweight history.

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BOXING

“He’s next”: Gervonta Davis sets his sights on one former champion for comeback fight

By Admin January 2, 2026

Gervonta Davis appears to have made up his mind on his boxing return.

It was a difficult period for ‘Tank’ in 2025, with the year beginning with a controversial majority decision draw to Lamont Roach in his WBA lightweight title defence in March.

The main talking point from the fight came when Davis voluntarily took a knee and retreated to his corner claiming he had grease in his eyes, with many onlookers claiming that should have led to a knockdown being scored, and Terence Crawford even thinking he should have been disqualified.

JUST IN: The Jake Paul Curse: What’s Happened to His Opponents After Fig

An immediate rematch was then expected to take place, but instead ‘Tank’ opted for an exhibition bout with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, which was scheduled for November.

It never went ahead after Davis was named in a civil lawsuit regarding domestic allegations, and after the Baltimore man had previously stated that he had plans to retire at the end of the year, it appeared that his time in a boxing ring may have been up.

Davis seems to have now made a U-turn on those comments though, after revealing he is targeting one man in particular for his return.

Taking to social media after Isaac Cruz and Roach recently fought to a majority decision draw, ‘Tank’ said he wants to take on Cruz.

“I’m taking him next, soon as my knee gets better.”

Davis previously fought Cruz back in December 2021, claiming a unanimous decision victory. Cruz is a former WBA super-lightweight champion, and currently holds the WBC interim crown at 140lbs, which he retained with that draw against Roach in December.

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BOXING

The Jake Paul Curse: What’s Happened to His Opponents After Fig

By Admin January 2, 2026

Jake Paul Curse: What’s Happened to His Opponents After Fighting Him is Strange

Anthony Joshua’s involvement in a tragic car crash in Nigeria on Monday, that killed two members of his team, has continued the strange trend that those who take to the ring against Jake Paul have something bad happen to them after the fight, and in one case, even before.

Out of the 13 people the American has laced the gloves up against, eight of them have suffered some sort of misfortune since fighting him.

READ: Anthony Joshua pays ‘final respects to departed friends’ after leaving hospital

The bad hands include three near-death experiences, falling out of the public eye entirely, a personal life falling apart, a declaration of bankruptcy, and a deportation.

Nate Robinson

The former basketball player, who became an NBA champion with the Miami Heat in 2013, was Paul’s second professional opponent, facing him in November 2020. He didn’t put up much resistance, however, as he was knocked out cold in the second round.

Since the defeat, Robinson has fallen off the face of the earth when it comes to the public eye, as nobody has heard from him in any form. Maybe he chose to keep a low profile to avoid the backlash following the knockout.

Ben Askren

In the lead-up to Ben Askren’s fight with Jake Paul in April 2021, there was a lot expected of the former, based off him being an ex-UFC fighter. However, he didn’t see the second round and was stopped in 119 seconds in what was quite embarrassing given it was just Paul’s third professional bout.

If the loss wasn’t enough for him to deal with, it had clearly taken more out of him than what was apparent on the surface, as four years later, Askren then had lung failure in mid-2025 and nearly died, only surviving after a vital transplant.

Tyron Woodley

The former UFC welterweight champion faced The Problem Child twice and lost both times, the second of which was a flush knockout in the sixth round. The reason why he took the two fights may be explained by the fact that it’s reported that following the two defeats, Woodley declared bankruptcy.

Again, this may give reason as to why Woodley stepped into the boxing ring on the undercard of Paul vs Joshua, against Anderson Silva, which he also lost, leaving his professional boxing record at 0-3.

Tommy Fury

Fury did please many by stopping the Paul hype train by split decision in Saudi Arabia, but it was the start of his boxing career beginning to fall apart. He has only fought once since his victory over Olajide Olatunji, better known as KSI, in October 2023, that coming against Kenan Hanjalic in a unanimous decision win in May 2025. Outside his fading career in the squared circle, he has often been seen taking part in fitness challenges, like triathlons and marathons.

What also seemed to fall apart was his personal life, as his relationship with Molly-Mae Hauge took a hiatus in 2024. Though back together now, Molly-Mae has been reluctant to put the ring back on and tie the knot.

Ryan Bourland

Bourland was 17-2 at the time he took on Paul in March 2024, so people felt he would provide a stern challenge. That wasn’t the case at all.

Instead, like Askren, Bourland didn’t survive the first three minutes, and was dispatched in the first round. The loss was clearly too much for him as he has since quit the sport, having not fought since he lost to Paul and has now taken a routine job as a plumber.

Mike Tyson

Paul’s so-called “fight” with a 58-year-old Mike Tyson was controversial enough. However, it got worse when it was learned that before the fight in Arlington, Tyson was in hospital for a number of weeks due to losing half his blood because of a bleeding ulcer that required eight blood transfusions.

Maybe his age played a factor in why that happened. Perhaps the hospitalisation explained Tyson’s lacklustre performance in the unanimous decision loss in November 2024.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

The former middleweight world champion, and son of the iconic Julio Cesar Chavez Snr, barely put on a display in his June 2025 unanimous defeat to the American, further disgracing the name that his father had worked so hard to put on the map.

It then got worse for the Mexican, as soon after the fight, he was deported back to his home country. It’s become seemingly apparent as to why he didn’t want to be south of the border, as he has had an active arrest warrant there since 2023 for his involvement in being a henchman for a drug cartel.

Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua gave Paul his second professional loss, but the latter made him work for it in a bigger ring than what is standard in professional boxing. He survived the former two-time unified heavyweight champion for six rounds before having his jaw broken by a right hand.

The injuries Paul suffered could keep him out of the ring for at least nine months, but it now seems Joshua will also not be seeing any action for a while. On the last Monday of 2025, he was involved in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two members of his team, who were close friends, with AJ suffering some injuries as well. So now not only does he need to recover mentally after the death of his friends, he has to deal with the physical damage the crash caused.

If Jake Paul does decide to keep fighting, those that will be standing in the opposite corner should be on high alert and hope the world doesn’t have a bad hand to throw at them as well.

⚠️THE JAKE PAUL CURSE

What’s happened to Jake Paul’s opponents is genuinely strange.

He’s fought around 13 people, and a concerning number of them experienced serious issues afterward.

– Mike Tyson nearly died before the fight. He required eight blood transfusions, lost… pic.twitter.com/Aey62KiJEr

— Mr. Nobody (@MmisterNobody) December 30, 2025

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CELEB NEWS

The 1 part of Tiger Woods’ legacy we’re waiting to understand

By Admin January 2, 2026

Few days ago, Tiger Woods turned 50 years old, adding fuel to one of the silliest debates going:

Will he ever play on the Champions Tour?

The conversation — both on social media and published by reputable journalists — is unsurprisingly carried on by those who would benefit, financially or otherwise, from Woods saying yes (present company included!) Woods has, for his part, treated the decision with jokey responses, which tells you just how seriously he’s taking it.

The truth is, Woods’ legacy will be mostly unmoved by any semblance of a career on the Champions Tour. Of course we want to see it, but if he wins a few tournaments driving around in a golf cart, would you be surprised? Recall how much it meant when Phil Mickelson walked out on the 50-and-over circuit and won without issue: very little! Which is why I’d like us to pivot our gaze to something that could actually add to Woods’ legacy in his next decade:

Captaining a Ryder Cup team.

READ: Why Tiger Woods’ son Charlie made ‘I’m broke’ claim as his true ne

One plainly obvious reason why this is worth more oxygen than plausible starts on the senior tour is that Woods has treated the idea of the Ryder Cup captaincy so … weirdly.

Two summers ago — when Woods missed the cut in three straight 2024 majors — it was obvious his playing skills and body had deteriorated. It coincided with Seth Waugh, then the head of the PGA of America, making it quite clear that the ball was in Woods’ court if he wanted the American captaincy job for the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Usually that position is decided about 18 months ahead of the competition, but there we were, about four months late of schedule, with no American leader decreed. As I understand it, Woods sat on the offer for months and months, unsure if he’d be able to give it the proper amount of focus amid his various duties reshaping the PGA Tour.

You know the story by now: Keegan Bradley was gifted the position in a shocking move (which played out in a mostly-American-whooping at Bethpage). One week after the news broke of Bradley’s appointment, Woods was at Royal Troon for the Open — the last time he’s played in competition — explaining during his press conference that he just didn’t have the time that a captaincy required. But then, a few minutes later, I raised my hand with a simple question, and received a very weird answer.

I know you just ran us through not having enough time to be a Ryder Cup captain, I began. Would you embrace the idea of being a vice captain if Keegan were to ask?

His response was four words long:

“He hasn’t asked me.”

When Woods gave his annual press conference earlier this month at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, he was asked if the 2027 captaincy — for the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, in Ireland — was a position he was interested in pursuing. This time, he gave six words.

“No one’s asked me about it.”

I’m asking you about it, the reporter said in return.

“No one’s asked me about it,” Woods repeated.

We’ll allow him the benefit of the doubt again, knowing that Woods saying yes would cast aside plenty of work already done by the PGA of America. And if he said no, again, it would just open up room for everyone to ask WHY?

Given his dismissiveness — and repetitiveness of needing to be asked first — it feels worthy of a conversation, especially now that Woods turns into the decade when most captaincies take place. Just how much is he up to the task?

Recent history has shown us the most cohesive, successful Ryder Cup captaincies have come with leaders who are present on the PGA Tour schedule, who demonstrate an ability to connect intimately with their teams, and who have put in the time as assistant captains in recent Cups. Woods has been in contact with players during the last few Ryder Cups, but always from a remote position in southern Florida. He has not been on-site at a Ryder Cup since the Americans were dragged in France in 2018, the final matches of his 13-21-3 career record as a player.

Personality-wise, Woods is about as polar-opposite as the outgoing American captain, Bradley, who lined up to do as much promotional marketing for the event as he was asked … and then some. Bradley opened his home to Netflix cameras during the 2023 Cup, did photo shoots for both GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest, made various trips to Bethpage and answered endless questions about his approach to the captaincy. Is all of that really going to happen for Woods — a man whose golf these days mostly happens in simulator appearances for Jupiter Links GC?

We lob these questions into the ether only to help golf fans consider the position — and Woods’ decision — holistically. It would be absurd if he didn’t captain a Ryder Cup team in the next 10 years. But it feels extremely unlikely that Woods captains the American team in 2027, a decision that has probably already been made by the PGA of America.

There is the 2029 Ryder Cup, which will be held at Hazeltine in Minnesota. Woods was an assistant captain under Davis Love there, when the Americans earned a much-needed victory in 2016. That feels plausible — and would allow Woods to correct the record at the site of one of his most famous defeats: the 2009 PGA. But the timing also coincides directly with the college golf career of his son, Charlie Woods, who graduates high school in the spring of 2027. One can easily imagine the elder Woods traveling to his son’s various tournaments and even coaching Charlie through portions of his collegiate career. Add that to his major championship schedule and he’ll be plenty busy.

One can only hope that Woods’ time commitments as a multiple-board chairman for the PGA Tour would relax by 2028. If so, the next Cup would be in 2029 when Woods is 54 years old. But that one will be played abroad, in Barcelona. It would be a tasty, global affair, if Woods would accept the position at that point. It’s complicated — for reasons we won’t delve into here — but would the prospect of facing a Sergio Garcia-led team in his home country entice Woods … or dissuade him? Perhaps we’re getting too far ahead there. On a more simple level, would the requisite international travel and appearance commitments fit Woods’ desires at that point? All of these things are part of the captaincy equation.

So is PGA of America leadership. It is understood that Woods was closer with Waugh than he is with current PGA of America executives, but that can certainly change. It just hasn’t been a great run of form lately from the American half of Ryder Cup — the latest squabble revolving around something as predictable as Bethpage course setup.

We can push forward as far as we’d like, but it seems the most logical place for Woods to take the Ryder Cup captaincy will be in 2033, when it is held at Olympic Club in San Francisco. The course sits on the side of a hill and requires all kinds of shot shapes, seemingly perfect for the analytical, ball-striking mind of Woods. It will take place in California, the state where Woods grew up, and just up the coast from where he hosts a tournament every February.

There is plenty to like about that 2033 Cup for Woods. Except that the further down the line we go, the older everyone gets. Xander Schauffele will be 39 the week of the 2033 Ryder Cup. Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas will be 40. At least part of that Cup will be decided by a generation of golfers who aren’t even professionals yet — a reminder that the captaincy part of Woods’ legacy isn’t totally up to him. And for it to feel positively additive to the career of one of the greatest golfers ever, that captaincy kind of has to end in a victory, doesn’t it?

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