Woods earns a captain role
Once reclusive star is playing a different role
Tiger Woods was the best solo act in golf for years, but he rarely was viewed as an ideal teammate.
Now, he is going to be a captain.
On Tuesday at Bay Hill, site of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods was named to be the leader of the U.S. team during the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia. His group will face off against an International contingent led by Hall of Famer Ernie Els.
Woods said he called PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan last fall to inquire about a potential captaincy.
The suggestion was met with stunned silence, Woods joked.
“And then he said, ‘Yeah, I think that we might be able to work that out,’ ” Woods said. “So here I am.”
Until back injuries the past four years, the 42-year-old Woods had been a stalwart as a player during team competitions, dating to his first Ryder Cup appearance as a 21-year-old in 1997. A year later, Woods played in his first of eight Presidents Cups.
Woods enjoyed some big moments during both events, including an epic 2003 duel in singles player against Els that went to sudden death but ended in draw due to darkness.
Too often, though, Woods failed to perform at the intimidating, nearly unbeatable level he did on the PGA Tour, leading observers to question his level of interest in team events.
Woods disputes the perception.
“Probably the greatest misperception is that I was, I should have been one of the leaders of the team. I mean, I was just a rook,” Woods said of the ’97 Ryder Cup. “I was just soaking it all in. I’ve been always the young guy on the team for probably three, four Cups. So that was interesting.
“Now it’s a little bit different. I’m one of the older guys.”
While sidelined by injuries, Woods began to forge relationships with golf’s younger stars as he became heavily involved in team events.
Woods served as an assistant to Steve Stricker during the 2017 Presidents Cup. Woods already has agreed to serve for the second time as a vice captain at the Ryder Cup, set for this fall outside of Paris.
“It was an evolution that I didn’t foresee happening because I thought I would be more of the the player, but I wasn’t,” Woods said. “I got to know them on a totally different side … and it was an open dialogue with a lot of these guys.”
Now, Woods suddenly appears capable of qualifying for the team.
This week’s API will be just Woods’ fifth start since he since he returned from major back surgery, but he is making rapid, if not unexpected progress.
Last week at the Valspar Championship outside Tampa, he tied for second place — his best finish since August of 2013. Earlier that year, Woods last played Bay Hill and recorded his record eighth win in Arnold Palmer’s tournament.
Woods recalled Hale Irwin served as a player-captain during the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994. Woods said he raised the possibility with Monahan.
“That’s a bridge that’s a long way away from crossing,” Woods said. “But if it does come to that point, it won’t just be my decision. It will be a collaborative effort — what is best for the team.”
A strong showing this week would be another major step in Woods’ comeback.
He arrived Tuesday to Bay Hill and worked on chipping and putting for around an hour. When he tees off at 7:20 a.m. today during the Pro-Am, he will begin to familiarize himself with the golf course and plot a strategy.
Woods will open play at 8:20 a.m. Thursday, grouped with 2016 winner Jason Day and world No. 6 Hideki Matsuyama.
The crowds are sure to be huge on what is expected to be a chilly Orlando morning. Wednesday night temperatures are forecast to dip into the low 40s.
“Just because I won here eight times doesn’t mean I’m going to win this week automatically,” he said. “I still got to do the work. I still got to go through the process of getting myself in position. But I understand the golf course, I’ve played it under so many different varying conditions.
“I’ve got to do some serious homework tomorrow, though.”